Ardbeg Galileo due into stock in September.
Only 18 bottles left of our allocation
Our mailing address is:
T.B.Watson Ltd.
11/17 English Street
Dumfries, Scotland DG1 2BU
United Kingdom
Berry Bros Whisky Tasting
Friday September 7th at The Station Hotel
7.30 for 7.45pm, £13.50 per member
With guest speaker Mr Jonny McMillan
This is a great chance to try a new range of whiskies from Berry Bros. & Rudd. There will be eight drams on offer on the night:
Girvan Single Grain 1989 22yo 46%
Blair Athol 1998 13yo 46%
Longmorn 1997 14yo 55.4%
Craigellachie 2000 10yo 46%
Bladnoch 1992 19yo 46%
Aberlour 1992 19yo 55.5% (refill sherry cask)
Bowmore 2003 8yo 57.9%
Bunnahabhain 1990 21yo 53.1% (refill sherry cask)
Eight different distilleries, some at cask strength and some at 46%. All are single casks, so when they are gone, they’re gone for good! With only three weeks to go, we would advise a quick response as space is, as ever, limited and is on a first reserved basis.
Please use the booking form that comes with your newsletter through the post. If you wish to attend but are not yet a member, you can join here and we will send you out a booking form and your membership card with the latest newsletter.
1996 Caol Ila 15 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($99.99)
One of the most surprising visits from our 2012 trip was at Caol Ila distillery on Islay. The Diageo plant is so big, so efficient, and so sterile that our appointment was more about around professional growth and crossing another distillery off our list. We didn’t expect to be wowed. For all of the criticism Caol Ila takes as being a whisky factory, the single malt made on site is damn good. Caol Ila uses big, fat-necked stills that produce a round and fruity spirit. That soft and supple character compliments the peat smoke of Islay malts perfectly. None of their whisky is aged on the island, so the brine and salt character attributed to Islay aging never really appears. What’s frustrating for U.S. customers is that most of the expressions that showcase the depth and potential of the distillate don’t make it across the water. The 18 year old we tasted on site was one of the best whiskies I had tasted all year, but since we can’t buy casks directly from Diageo, we were going to have to look elsewhere for something similar. Last year’s visit to Sovereign resulted in a 30 year old Caol Ila cask of supreme complexity, but we were so intrigued by the 18 year that we wanted something with less age and more fruit. Tasting the 15 year old cask on the mainland in Glasgow, we found what we were looking for. Soft, supple textures, youthful campfire smoke, brandied fruit on the palate, with vanilla accents that smooth out the finish. A tasty winner that we can’t wait for you to try.
1994 Caperdonich 18 Year Old K&L Sovereign Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($99.99)
We love finding great casks of whisky from “lost distilleries,” single malt institutions that are no longer in operation making their whisky more collectable and difficult to find. While the buildings at Brora and Port Ellen still stand today 30 years after their closure, Caperdonich, closed forever in 2002, was completely gutted and destroyed just recently. Nothing remains from the former Pernod-Ricard facility other than the single malt already sitting in cask. Much like its demolished cousin Banff, which we featured in last year’s K&L single malt lineup, Caperdonich has a distinct and understated character that doesn’t jump out of the glass immediately. It needs to be coaxed out. Our single barrel of 18 year old malt is a tease at first – hinting at supple fruit on the nose, yet lithely avoiding any serious concentration on the palate. Water is a must with the cask strength in order to temper the heat and bring out the nuance. With the alcohol in check comes the classic character of the distillery – grass, hay, and notes of pepper with more stonefruit. It’s a keenly interesting whisky that offers a chance at understanding a fallen soldier. Again, the Banff comparison will be key. Some people thought last year’s cask was underwhelming, others thought it was the best they had ever tasted. This year’s Caperdonich barrel will likely polarize drinkers much the same, wowing those who appreciate delicacy. Like the distillery itself, it will be missed after it’s gone.
1998 Glen Garioch 14 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($87.99)
On last year’s trip to Scotland, David and I stopped by Glendronach distillery on a whim, fell in love, and now it’s one of the top whiskies we sell at K&L. This year’s version of that was Glen Garioch distillery in Oldmeldrum. An old-fashioned, picturesque distillery located in the center of the quaint village, generating romanticism like you wouldn’t believe. Part of the Morrison-Bowmore portfolio, Glen Garioch’s whisky creation has been put into the hands of former Ardbeg superstar Rachel Barrie, who jumped ship to Bowmore last year. We weren’t planning on selecting a cask of Glen Garioch, but after stopping by early on in our trip, we told Rachel how much we enjoyed our visit while meeting with her a week later. Being originally from the area, Rachel was so overjoyed we had connected so deeply with her own sense of nostalgia, that she ran to the back to grab a cask sample she had picked out for Bowmore recently – a 1998 single cask aged in a hogshead that had previously held peated whisky. GG had dabbled in the peated Highland style before 1994, but the whisky produced today is completely without smoke. This very special cask, chosen by Rachel, has all the beautiful sweet grains we love about the malt with just a whisper of peat in the background. The palate is elegant and lean, but the fruit and vanilla is concentrated in its core. The whisky tastes like the town of Oldmeldrum – old world, country, rustic, and down-home. That’s terroir in whisky. (David Drisoll, K&L)
1980 Glenlochy 32 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($399.99)
I’ve maybe glossed over a mention Glenlochy in the Malt Yearbook or one of Michael Jackson’s books, but it has never had a form or context for me. It is not been on our radar because it is absolutely one of the rarest single malts on the market today. Purchased by DCL (the company that would become Diageo) in 1953, Glenlochy is one of these distilleries that met its demise during the whisky slump of the early ’80s. It had only one wash still and one spirits still. That is to say, they made very little whisky. This is the only bottle of Glenlochy currently available in the US market. It also happens to be the sister cask to the incredibly acclaimed 31 year old Glenlochy that was recently rated 92 points by Serge Valentine of Whiskyfun.com. I cannot express how outrageously complex this whisky is. The range of flavors is unfathomable. This thing is absolutely packed up. It’s like unraveling a giant ball of yarn. We start on the almond, nougat, exotic wood, all savory and powerful. Subtlety shifting into the herbal and fruit aromas, this nose is like a chameleon, at once beautifully exotic and powerfully brooding. On the palate, fabulously rich in texture, the whisky is like a ball of plasma oscillating through multiple states of being. It leaves you smiling and exhausted. Seriously, this is one of a kind. -David Othenin-Girard
1991 Linkwood 21 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($115.99)
Diageo’s Linkwood distillery is generally considered one of, if not the best of, the Speyside distilleries that are not sold stateside. We’re lucky to find a delicious, independently-bottled expression from time to time and we’re always on the lookout for something special. While most Speyside distilleries use heavy amounts of sherry, Linkwood’s elegant, fruity style stands on its own when aged in hogshead barrels as an alternative. Unfortunately, getting that delicate nuance of fruit and vanilla takes time and we haven’t seen older expressions of Linkwood very often. Our friends at Sovereign dug deep into their inventory, however, and surfaced with exactly what we desired: unsherried Linkwood with more than two decades of time in the barrel. Graceful, playful, and light with flavors of stonefruit, with the vanilla from the wood acting as a backbone. Because it’s bottled at cask strength, water is key to toning down the proof and releasing the potential for more flavor. A few drops helps balance the power and brings out notes of baking spice, resinous oils, and more richness from the wood. This is a whisky we expect many to pass over in favor of our other, more exciting casks, before coming back around later to realize they’ve overlooked a true gem. The sleeper of the older expressions we’ve had bottled. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)
United States – Bourbon and Rye
Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 Year Old Bourbon 750ml ($36.99)
95 points Wine Enthusiast: “This amber-hued, six-year-old Bourbon has a bright, honeyed, slightly peachy scent. On the palate, it has a sweet creaminess, very smooth and light, finishing dry and lovely with just a bit of spicy rye-like sparkle. A fine choice for Manhattans and other Bourbon-based cocktails.” (07/2012) K&L Notes: The Old Scout has a lot of rye in the mash–36%–making for a supple-but-spicy bourbon with subtle fruit flavors and a hint of tobacco and spice.
Scotland – Single Malt Scotch
Laphroaig “Càirdeas” Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml (one bottle limit) ($64.99)
Here is the 2012 release of Laphroaig’s ever popular “friendship” malt. It takes the vatting from last year, an array of casks ranging from 11 to 19 years old, and add in some cask strength quarter cask material. Powerful, heady, lovely, Laphroaig, it is indeed. Jump on it, we got a big allocation, but it’s still basically non existent.
United States – Bourbon and Rye
1512 Barbershop Rye White Whiskey 375ml ($29.99)
1512 Spirits is a little outfit that has been making illegal moonshine for three generations. From what I’ve heard (from them and from others) the guy behind this project is a distillation genius. This guy still works as a barber five days a week in SF and distills at night in Sonoma County. We just got 48 bottles of this 100% white rye and it’s so pure, I can’t believe how much it smells like fresh bread and rye grains! It’s very, very good. I hope it’s an indication of what is to come. There supposed to have some aged stuff coming soon! Can’t wait. I plan on doing plenty o’ business with 1512. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)
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
presents The Drambusters Whisky Festival 2012
Tickets are now on sale for our second Whisky Festival at Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Dumfries at £20 per person. We have organised two Master Classes, Bruichladdich and either Tomintoul or McKillop’s Choice. The Master Classes will cost £15 each and are on sale online too.
The festival will run from 12 noon until 4.30pm on Saturday 24th November at our new venue and we are anticipating a larger turnout of both visitors and exhibitors. More information will follow both in the newsletters and also online, so keep an eye on our email newsletters, website and facebook pages as well as our tweets @drambusters and also by text.
www.ralfy.com asks all you maltsters, . . . have you tried any American Malt Whisky recently? Well this might put you in the mood, Whisky Review #297 – St. Georges American Malt Whisky.
The Relaxed Whisky Weekend
7 – 9 September 2012
The taste of Maltstock
Fellow whisky enthusiasts,
Less than three weeks until Maltstock commences. Time to talk about food! Maltstock is all about good company and whisky. Both are best enjoyed on a healthy diet of good and tasty food. No worries! At Maltstock there will be plenty of that…
Indonesian/ Chinese buffet
The taste of Maltstock Friday will be spicy, sweet and sour. We’ll have a Indonesian/ Chinese dinner buffet prepared for you. Four different dishes will be presented to you with noodles, rice and fried rice. A good base for an evening of whisky fun and the Whisky Quiz by the Whisky shop Dufftown. www.whiskyshopdufftown.co.uk
Breakfast by Highlander Inn
The taste of Maltstock Saturday and Sunday morning is hearty and healthy! The Highlander Inn team will make sure everybody has the best possible start of the day. A full Scottish breakfast will be prepared for you on Saturday and Sunday. Baked beans, eggs, the famous Highlander Inn haggis, it will all be there!.
The Highlander Inn is a must visit place for every whisky enthusiast. Perfectly located in Craigellachie, in the heart of Speyside, they provide excellent accommodation, fantastic food, an amazing selection of whisky, and the best service! Visit their website for more details: www.whiskyinn.com
Food market
Tasting great food in combination with great whisky is an experience in itself! On Saturday afternoon two great chefs will create culinary snacks to accompany whisky. The chefs will suggest some whiskies that will probably match their creations. But it’s up to you to try the delicious food and come up with your own suggestions.
This is the only event at Maltstock that is not part of the all inclusive formula. But don’t worry: for just a few euro’s you can taste great culinary creations and combine them with whisky and discuss with fellow whisky enthusiasts which combinations work best.
Lunch
Of course lunch is included and our great volunteer team will prepare and present filled rolls for you on Saturday afternoon.
BBQ by BBQGuru and Ardbeg
Tasting continues because dinner on Saturday will truly be a tasting experience! There will be no dinner menu this year but a ‘line up’ of amazing foods and Ardbeg whisky.
*Whole hog, (whole spit roasted, pig) basted with Alligator mop sauce
*Whole salmon, with Ardbeg Uigeadail.
*BBQ sundae with pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, a Pickle slice (BBQ sundae is a cup filled with baked beans, pork shoulder cooked for 15 hours on the BBQ, with coleslaw and a pickle disk)
*Smoked chicken
Side dishes:
*baked beans
*coleslaw
*pasta salad
These guys are truly passionate about BBQ and that shows! They travel the world to go to BBQ competitions. Visit www.BBQGuru.nl for more information.
Ardbeg whisky will be included in some dishes. Furthermore, Ardbeg has kindly provided for whisky to accompany these great foods. For more information about Ardbeg and on how to become a Committee member: www.ardbeg.com
Midnight snack
The taste of night: for all night dwellers BBQGuru will prepare a little snack Saturday night to keep you going untill…
Moinkballs
Jakitori skewers
Bruschetta with grilled brie
So… be there and have a taste of Maltstock!
Remember: there will be no ticket sales at the Maltstock gates. All tickets have to be ordered online in our web shop. Click here to order tickets. If you can’t make it this year, we already have the dates for next year: 6-8 September 2013.
Hope to see you all in September, see you at Maltstock!
Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun
BUSHMILLS™ IRISH WHISKEY SWEEPS THE BOARD AT 2012 SPIRIT COMPETITIONS
BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey has finished the 2012 awards season with a sweep of accolades from some of the world’s most prestigious spirit competitions – twelve of which have been picked up in the last month alone.
The recent awards include two gold medals for BUSHMILLS 21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey – one at the 2012 International Wine and Spirit Competition and another at the 2012 Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters.
The medals bring the number of awards that the handcrafted BUSHMILLS range has won in 2012 to 32. This includes the accolade of ‘Best Irish Whiskey’ that BUSHMILLS 21 Year Old also picked up at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
BUSHMILLS 16 Year Old Single Malt also picked up a coveted ‘Master’ award – the highest in its category – in the 2012 Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters.
BUSHMILLS Global Brand Director, Samantha Reader said: “The quality of BUSHMILLS, as recognised by the most credible experts in the industry, is an important factor in the growth of the brand.”
“Picking up a haul of 32 top awards has been the perfect ending to a big year for us. In the past few months, we’ve launched a new product, BUSHMILLS Irish Honey, in the U.S.; staged Bushmills Live – a handcrafted whiskey and music festival – at the home of BUSHMILLS; and collaborated with a range of world-famous artists such as Snow Patrol, Bon Iver and Elijah Wood.”
BUSHMILLS Master Distiller, Colum Egan, said: “It has been an incredible year already for us here at Bushmills and we have been thrilled with each and every award that has been bestowed on our beloved whiskies.
“We spend a lot of time here at Bushmills handcrafting each of our whiskies in small batches – that’s our secret to creating the best quality Irish Whiskey and the smooth taste that is our house style. We’ll certainly be enjoying a glass to celebrate!”
BUSHMILLS Range
Topping the boards: The BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey range.
Bushmills 21 Year Old
Best Irish Whiskey: Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Colum Egan
BUSHMILLS Master Distiller Colum Egan celebrates the brand’s awards haul at the Old Bushmills Distillery.
Samantha Reader
BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey Global Brand Director Samantha Reader: “The quality of BUSHMILLS, as recognised by our industry peers already this year, is an important factor in the growth of the brand”.
Bushmills Live
Bushmills Live – the festival of handcrafted whiskey and music – at the Old Bushmills Distillery.
Notes
BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey is handcrafted in small batches for a smooth taste at Ireland’s oldest working distillery, in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The brand portfolio includes six award-winning whiskies: BUSHMILLS, BLACK BUSH, BUSHMILLS 10 Year Old Single Malt, BUSHMILLS 16 Year Old Single Malt, BUSHMILLS 21 Year Old Single Malt and our anniversary edition, BUSHMILLS 1608.
BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey awards 2012:
| BUSHMILLS | |
| San Francisco World Spirits Competition | Silver Medal |
| Ultimate Spirits Challenge | Irish Whiskey Blend Finalist. Scored 95 – extraordinary / ultimate recommendation accolade. |
| International Spirits Challenge | Silver Medal |
| The Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters | Silver Medal |
| International Wine and Spirit Competition | Silver |
| BLACK BUSH | |
| San Francisco World Spirits Competition | Silver Medal |
| Ultimate Spirits Challenge | Irish Whiskey Blend Finalist. Scored 95 – extraordinary / ultimate recommendation accolade. |
| International Spirits Challenge | Silver Medal |
| The Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters | Silver Medal |
| International Wine and Spirit Competition | Silver |
| BUSHMILLS 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey | |
| San Francisco World Spirits Competition | Gold Medal |
| Ultimate Spirits Challenge | Finalist. Scored 94 – excellent / highly recommended accolade. |
| International Spirits Challenge | Silver Medal |
| The Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters | Gold Medal |
| International Wine and Spirit Competition | Silver – Outstanding |
| BUSHMILLS 16 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey | |
| San Francisco World Spirits Competition | Gold Medal |
| Ultimate Spirits Challenge | Irish Whiskey Single Malt – Chairman’s Trophy. Scored 97 – extraordinary / ultimate recommendation accolade. |
| International Spirits Challenge | Silver Medal |
| The Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters | Master |
| International Wine and Spirit Competition | Gold |
| BUSHMILLS 21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey | |
| San Francisco World Spirits Competition | Best Irish Whiskey (Double Gold Medal) |
| Whisky Magazine World Whiskies Awards | Best Irish Single Malt |
| Whisky Magazine World Whiskies Awards | Best Irish Single Malt 21 Years and Over |
| Ultimate Spirits Challenge | Irish Whiskey Single Malt Finalist. Scored 94 – excellent / highly recommended accolade. |
| International Spirits Challenge | Silver Medal |
| The Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters | Gold Medal |
| International Wine and Spirit Competition | Gold – Outstanding |
| BUSHMILLS 1608 | |
| Whisky Magazine World Whiskies Awards | Best Irish Blended Whiskey (No Age Statement) |
| International Spirits Challenge | Silver Medal |
| The Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters | Silver Medal |
| International Wine and Spirit Competition | Silver – Outstanding |
| BUSHMILLS Irish Honey | |
| San Francisco World Spirits Competition | Bronze |
About Diageo
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
Macallan 16yo 1995 (53%, SMWS, Refill Hogshead, 24.122)
On the undiluted nose there are some fragrant notes along with some sweetness and some dried fruit (apricots, peaches, apples – think concentrated). Following these delights are some very good dusty malt notes (like being in a malt barn) and the sweetness and the dusty malt work very well together. With water the concentrated oak flavours are still quite evident (& still good). The undiluted taste is from the oak side of the flavour spectrum with lots of spicy characteristics and it’s very dry; like a dry aperitif perhaps? There’s also some grapefruit and some chewy malt. With a splash of water things calm down some what but there are still lots of flavour and it remains true to the undiluted sample. The finish is good and reflects the nose and the taste very well; it’s long and vibrant. The grapefruit (& malt) makes an appearance also just to add some colour to the finish.
Quite different from the officials bottlings and an interesting addition to any malt lovers mileage. Only 120 bottles imported into the USA (The total outturn is not specified).
$120
Score 81 points
To order (& to join) contact the Society at 1 800 990 1991 or www.smwsa.com and please visit HERE to read the official notes. Sample kindly provided by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. Sample two of four this week.
A Taste from the Past – Grant’s 25 Year Old Character Jug
Hello all,
It seems many of you enjoyed my recent review of one of our old Royal Doulton decanters with over 1,000 of you ‘liking’ our Facebook post. I love social media sites in that respect, as they give me instant feedback on what our fans enjoy reading. And so, this week I have found another…(please click on the link to read the remainder of the article)…
Kind regards,
Ludo
