Golden Oldie Cask Ends Sale

We’ve put together three parcels made entirely from the last drops of some fantastic casks. What’s more, we can guarantee each parcel has a golden oldie of at least 18YO

Buy each parcel individually or add 4.168 Gunpowder, treason and plot for a special price.

The identity of the 70cl bottles in our parcels are a mystery. The sale not only offers wonderful savings, it opens-the-eyes to some sensational single casks you may have never tried before. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Browse all Parcels

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.

A Taste from the Past – Grant’s Best Procurable, 12 Years Old

Good morning all,

After a few days in London, Paris and Girvan, I am finally back in what is beginning to feel like home – our new Dufftown Blending Room. I enjoy getting back to Dufftown after a few days away as there are often a few goodies waiting for me. Amongst the stack of parcels…(please clcik on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,
Ludo

www.ralfy.com presents the World’s new most expensive whisky with Whisky Review 303 – Bankrowburn

Bowmore Islay Single Malt Whisky Announces Release Of Bowmore 1957 – 54 Years Old

~ The Oldest Bowmore and Oldest Islay Single Malt Ever Released ~

A Whisky Collector’s Dream Come True:

Bottles No. 1 and No. 2 to be Auctioned at Bonhams in Edinburgh and New York City this October with net Proceeds Donated to Charity

Islay, Scotland (September 17, 2012) – Bowmore®, the first Islay Single Malt whisky, will release its oldest ever expression this October: the exceptionally rare Bowmore 1957, 54 Years Old. Not only is this the oldest whisky the distillery has ever released, it is also the oldest IslaySingle Malt ever released. Distilled in 1957 and bottled in 2011, this marvel has been lying in wait in the finest oak for over half a century in Bowmore’s legendary No. 1 Vaults, the oldest maturation warehouse in Scotland. With only 12 bottles in existence worldwide, this is the rarest Bowmore and will no doubt become one of the most sought-after and collectible Single Malt Scotch Whiskies in the world.

Bottles No. 1 and No. 2 will be offered at a public auction at esteemed international auction house Bonhams in Edinburgh on Oct 10 and in New York City on Oct 28 with a minimum reserve set at £100,000 per bottle (approx. $155,000). All net proceeds from both saleswill be donated to five Scottish charities.

Many generations have been the custodians of Bowmore 1957’s long journey from cask to bottle. Beginning in 1779 when Bowmore was established through to the present day, the distillery team has served as guardians of Bowmore’swhisky-making traditions and its inventory, safeguarding them so that future generations can continue to experience the unique spirit that is Bowmore. Bowmore 1957 was as much nurtured by the people as it was by its cask and the ancient distillery walls.

A collection of 1957 casks were bottled in 1995 but one in particular was held back from the outset as it was clear that it was more special and exceptional than the rest. Since 1995, the whisky in that cask has been examined every six months to check the quality, taste, developments and changes; closely watched to see how long the whisky could mature without losing Bowmore’s signature trait of a sweet/smoky balance.

Andrew Rankin, Morrison Bowmore’s Chief Blender, comments: “Upon checking the whisky in early 2011, we knew it had reached perfection at 54 years of age. Bowmore 1957 has withstood the test of time astoundingly well and is nothing short of brilliance in a glass.”

The Auction

Widely considered as one of the leading collectible Single Malts in the world, the Bonhams’ auctions for the Bowmore1957 are certain to quicken the heartbeats of whisky collectors around the world. Auctions are slated for Edinburgh on October 10 (http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19871/) and in New York City on October 28 (http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20459/) with bids accepted live in each location as well as live internet bidding. Enquiries regarding bidding can be directed to bids@bonhams.com. The minimum reserve set by Bonhams is £100,000 per bottle, the highest reserve ever set for a Single Malt Whisky. Says Martin Green, Bonhams’ Whisky Specialist, “We, at Bonhams, are very excited to offer at auction the rarest and oldest expression of Bowmore. This iconic bottling, the most mature spirit ever to come from Islay, has been watched over for 54 years and is in impeccable condition.”

The Charitable Donation

Morrison Bowmore Distillers, producers of Bowmore, have chosen to donate all the net proceeds of both auctions to five Scottish charities that encompass a variety of worthy causes: ALZHEIMER SCOTLAND (care for people with dementia, their caregivers and families); THE BEATSON ONCOLOGY CENTRE (care for cancer patients receiving treatment in the west of Scotland); CHAS (children’s hospice services); ERSKINE (medical care for Armed Forces); and MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE (cancer care and research). Mike Keiller, Morrison Bowmore Distillers ChiefExecutive Officer, says: “The notion of having a cask from 1957 that can still produce something so glorious shows the acute attention to detail and care that we pride ourselves on at Morrison Bowmore. The fact that we can take some of the precious cargo from this cask to help the lives of so many across many different communities through our charitable contribution, we thought we should help Scottish charities with this rare piece of Scotch whisky history.”

The Unique Presentation

Bowmore has been distilling and perfecting its celebrated Single Malt on Islay since 1779, using time-honored traditions that have not changed since. Bowmore is one of the few distilleries that still turns its floor-malted barley by hand, checks the germinating barley by rolling it between finger and thumb and judges the “middle cut” of new made spirit by eye to determine the best liquid to fill the casks that will mature into well-aged Bowmore.

No attention to detail has been missed in making this precious spirit, and thesame hand-crafted thoughtfulness has been applied to the vessel and presentation box that carries the Bowmore 1957. Each of the 12 bottles has been hand-blown and sculpted by two of the world’s foremost glass artists Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns, into the shape ofwaves reminiscent of those that constantly crash against the No. 1 Vaults’ sea-facing walls, whilst the glass is inlaid with shimmering flecks of platinum.

Adorning each bottle is a platinum neck collar, hand-engraved with the bottle number and spirit strength, and platinum stopper hand-crafted by Hamilton & Inches, Warrant Holder to the Queen. The bottle and accompanying glasses and water pitcher, also hand-blown by Nairn and Burns, are nestled in a presentation box created by acclaimed woodworker Peter Toaig, using hand-selected pieces of Scottish Oak. View artisans’ videos here: http://www.bowmore.com/news/something-magical/

The Allocation Of 12 Bottles

Only 12 bottles of the rarest Bowmore 1957 have been created. Two of these will be auctioned, two have been retained for the Morrison Bowmore archives and the remaining eight will be available for purchase by the public solely at the Bowmore Distillery on Islay. The retail price for Bowmore 1957 will be £100,000 (approx. $155,000). Islay is the whisky-making mecca for many aficionados and those people who make the special journey to purchase Bowmore 1957 will be captivated by this magical island’s craggy coasts, windswept moors and friendly inhabitants.

The Cask Maturation And Tasting Notes

Bowmore 1957 (42.1%) is a symphony of aromas and flavors never before experienced. After distillation, the new spirit was placed into a second fill sherry cask (where it spent 43 years) and then in2000 was moved into a second fill bourbon cask. At first breath, an elixir of blueberries and wild figs with mellow almonds, tropical fruit and rich oakyovertones hits the nose. The palate reveals layer upon layer of sweet and refined ocean tastes with soft blueberries, cassis and figs, sea salt and fresh eucalyptus. Next, a wisp of teasing smoke and traces of dark chocolate fusewith notes of grapefruit and juicy oak, carried along by a warming marine breeze. This sensory journey ends with a long and whispering finish of cassis, bergamot and star anise.

For more information, please visit www.bowmore.com  and www.Facebook.com/Bomwore

NOTES:

The Bowmore Distillery

Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception. Bowmore carefully smokes its malt and uses skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced single malt. Bowmore’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of its single malts – they are one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovels. It draws water from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, and it’s the same Islay peat that fires the malt drying kiln.

Bowmore Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of the spirit. The famous Bowmore No. 1 Vaults is where most of the whiskies spend their time resting quietly in the cool,dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the Vault’s sea-facing wall. They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavors. It’s this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore single malt whiskies.

The Bowmore domestic product range:

Bowmore Legend

Bowmore 12 Years Old

Bowmore 15 Years Old ‘Darkest’

Bowmore 18 Years Old

Bowmore 25 Years Old

Bonhams

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a furtherthree in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plusdetails of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com

JOHNNIE WALKER® LAUNCHES BOLD NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

by Pat Roberts

‘Where Flavour Is King’ showcases products’ credentials rooted in the big, bold flavours of Johnnie Walker whisky

Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Blended Scotch Whisky, is this week launching a new global advertising campaign. Entitled ‘Where Flavour Is King’, the campaign focuses on the array of rich and intense flavours that are found in each blend of Johnnie Walker whisky.

From its origins in 1820, the Johnnie Walker label has always been committed to its quest to blend whiskies of exceptional flavour, refusing to compromise on quality. This dedicated attitude to finding exotic and exciting tastes takes the product on a special journey of distillation, maturation and blending, to produce the ultimate, unrivalled blend. The flavours, derived solely from the simplest ingredients of barley, water and peat, are mythically transformed through distillation and years of maturation in charred wood casks before being unleashed through the craft of the master blender.

This unique flavour production and craft of blending, which is at the heart of the Scotch, is reflected in the collection of campaign images, as consumers are transported to a mysterious and evocative world, featuring giant fruit smashers, towers of spices, honey cauldrons and fire-breathers.

Where Flavour is King – Black Label

The new, vibrant campaign and its collection of stunning images will be supported by an above the line campaign across outdoor and radio, as well as bespoke promotional materials, delivering rich consumer experiences in the on and off trade. The campaign will also feature social media activation that will centre on a unique Facebook app, taking consumers on an exotic and engaging journey through the layers, flavour and wonderful ways to enjoy Johnnie Walker.

‘Where Flavour Is King’ was written and produced by UK ad agency LOVE, and led by creative director Chris Myers. The campaign images were shot by renowned photographer Finlay MacKay over five days in London, England in April 2012. The extensive production – led by award-winning set designer Robin Brown, Michelin star food stylist James Hayward and Fashion Director of GQ Style in the UK, Luke Day – required a drawing room to be built from scratch, featuring dramatic lighting, giant fruits and 6ft tall bottles of Johnnie Walker Whisky. A short behind-the-scenes film about the making of the campaign images can be accessed here.

Gavin Pike, Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker, said the campaign would help drive consumer awareness of the range of tastes across the brand portfolio:

“The new campaign, ‘Where Flavour Is King’, will open consumers’ eyes to the depth and variety of flavour that exists across the Johnnie Walker whisky taste spectrum. By creating a unique image for each variant of Johnnie Walker whisky, the consumer will be able to make an instant, tangible association with the power and depth of flavour of each blend. For example our Red Label shot centres around spices and fresh fruit, whereas the Black Label campaign highlights rich fruits and vanilla, with the distinctive Johnnie Walker smoky finish.

We’re thrilled to be able to Keep Walking in the footsteps of John Walker, dedicating ourselves to the pursuit of flavour and are positive that ‘Where Flavour Is King’ will provide even deeper levels of consumer engagement than in previous campaigns.”

The first market to launch ‘Where Flavour Is King’ is Africa, followed by Australia, Brazil, Global Travel, Russia & Hong Kong, later this year. European markets will roll out from July 2013.

Fall Outturn Postcard Offerings 

A big, eye-watering slap 

Cask No. 23.72

Islay, Loch Indaal 

The nose forced shotgun shells and fireworks on us – but also gave barley sugars, custard and chocolate-coated foamy bananas; peppermint tea, liquorice, smoked ham and old bonfires. The palate’s big, eye-watering; sherry slap took our breath away – sweet red liquorice, cinder toffee, crème brûlée, treacle, cooked apples, ash and peat. The reduced nose suggested barbecued lamb chops dripping on embers, singed mint leaf and burnt lemon skin. Water definitely improved the palate – now sweeter (toasted coconut, vanilla, golden syrup, raisins, cherries) – also woody spices, crispy sage, and grilled lobster. The distillery is on the road from Port Charlotte to Bridgend. 

Drinking tip: Let some water open it up and don’t rush it 

Colour: Golden mother hen

Cask: Refill sherry butt

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: July 2002
Alcohol: 66.4% 

$90 

Old-fashioned tea chests and maple candy 

Cask No. 125.48 

Highlands, Northern Highlands 

The nose, initially offering orange liqueur, balsa wood and old-fashioned tea chests, took some time to open; a drop of water helped us to discover the depth and complexity – caramel, Mars bar, fruit tea with honey, a mixed bag of dried fruits and nuts and Dorset Cereals muesli with maple syrup. The palate, at natural strength, had good heat in it, plus flavours of leather, wood, tea leaves and coconut, with cinder toffee, burnt sugar and honeycomb crunch. The reduced palate developed malt and candy sweetness, with pleasant warm spices in the finish. ‘Perfected’ by the sixteen men of Tain. 

Drinking tip: Pretty versatile really, but not one to be rushed 

Colour: Vintage marmalade

Cask: Dechar/rechar hogshead

Age: 12 years

Date distilled: November 1998

Alcohol: 52.1% 

$110 

Black tea in a greenhouse 

Cask No. 2.81 

Highlands, Speyside (Livet) 

Rich and heady aromas of butterscotch, molasses and rum soaked raisins together with crème brulee, orange oil, geraniums and a greenhouse on a warm day. Toffee sweetness was balanced by balsamic and a trace of struck matches. The taste was hot, there was liquorice, black tea tannins, toffee and black pepper. Water improved it offering smooth buttery toffee, tobacco and balsamic. The palate was still tannic (like chewing sticks) with brown sauce bitterness but also sweet with vanilla, butterscotch and caramel. This Speyside distillery is close to the famous pack horse bridge. 

Drinking tip: A pudding dram 

Colour: Mahogany

Cask: First-fill sherry butt

Age: 15 years

Date distilled: April 1996

Alcohol: 59.9% 

$120 

A bag of assorted boiled sweets 

Cask No. G1.8 

Grain 

Lots of fruit on the early nose (pear flan, rhubarb, lemon curd, apricot) growing richer in the glass – soon we found marzipan, fudge, toffee, Bakewell tart, butterscotch, vanilla and straw. The palate was just as fruity but also sweet and nippy (some found it fiery) – like a bag of assorted boiled sweets. In reduction, the nose split between citric components and banana toffee – also some dustiness, like rubbing butter into flour. The palate opened and became cleaner and fresher, but evaporation from the tongue left rich joys of tobacco, liquorice and dark chocolate Bounty bars. From Edinburgh’s only grain distillery.

Drinking tip: A summertime dram – or maybe while making cakes 

Colour: Pale apricot gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 21 years

Date distilled: December 1990

Alcohol: 62.9% 

$145

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/ for further information on their single cask bottlings.

TWE Whisky Show Whisky Dinner

It was an excited crowd that milled in the beautiful, airy conservatory at London’s Bombay Brasserie on Tuesday night. The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show Pre-Show Dinner (to give it its full, quite-a-lot-too-long title) began with a flavoursome mystery cask strength … Continue reading >>

Come and Taste a Wee Dram…
Single Malt Scotch Tasting Seminar
Thursday, October 4th, 2012
6: 30 pm at:

Zibibbo
430 Kipling Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Sponsored by:

Beltramo’s Wines & Spirits

Chieftain’s Choice…Only the worthy are chosen… Naturally
Presented by Ed Kohl
Bunnahabhain Peated 14 yr
Glenturret 21 yr Cask Strength
Balmenach 28 yr Cask Strength

Kilchoman…Islay’s Farm Distillery
Presented by Anthony Wills
Kilchoman Machir Bay
Kilchoman Sherry Cask

The Arran Malt…Pure by Nature
Presented by Louisa Young
Arran 10 yr
Arran 14yr
Arran Sauternes Finish

Admission is $ 49.00. Light appetizers will be served. Advance Reservations Required.
Call Rick Clay at 650-325-2806 to purchase tickets. Space is limited.

CAPERDONICH REBORN AT THE OWL DISTILLERY IN BELGIUM
Ernie-Ernst J. Scheiner, The Gateway to Distilleries

The famous coppersmiths Forsyths bought the site of the well-known Speyside distillery Caperdonich at Rothes in 2010. As they did not intend to distil whisky but needed some more space for their manufacturing business Glen Grant’s twin sister distillery was bulldozed one year later. However, the manufacturer of distillation equipment saved the mash tun, the washbacks and the four pot stills. They were moved to the scrap yard.

Founded by the owner of the neighbouring Glen Grant Distillery, James Grant, in 1897-98, the newly built distillery was closed just after three years of production due to negative impact of the infamous Pattison Crash. In 1965 „Glen Grant No. 2“ was reopened under the name of CAPERDONICH. Two more pot stills were installed by the Glenlivet Distillers Ltd. However, production life had been short again when „The Secret Well“ was made silent by its new owners Pernod Ricard in 2002.

From scrap back to production

Richard Forsyth sold one pair of the four Caperdonich pot stills to the Belgian Owl Distillery which is situated near the vibrant economic and cultural centre of Liège in Wallonia, Belgium.

Master Distiller Étienne Bouillon’s huge success with his much acclaimed whisky made solely of Belgian spring barley brought instantly the micro distillery to a bottleneck after the first Owl Whisky was released in 2007. „The demand has been overwhelming since then. It was much higher than our production capacity of 20.000 bottles per year.“ 95% of their whiskies are consumed in Belgium.

The Owl Distillery’s two vintage Swiss alambic pot stills date back to 1890. Their small size and their age made further production increases impossible. „We considered their renovation, dropped this idea, and planned a new set of pot stills. While planning we still looked out for old used pot stills,“ the distiller recalls their difficult situation.

The founding team around Etienne with Christian Polis and farmer Pierre Roberti was absolutely lucky when Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich Distillery gave them a vital hint. Talks and discussions began. In the end Richard Forsyth sold one pair of the four Caperdonich pot stills which were originally built by his forefathers in 1898.

Étienne Bouillon was more than happy, his dream came true and above all resulted in the aquisition of a renowned pair of beautiful Victorian pot stills. By summer 2013 the 11,000 litre wash still and the 8,000 litre spirit still will be distilling a Belgian type of „Caperdonich new make spirit.“ A new set of mash tun and washbacks will be installed by Forsyths whereas the original Caperdonich mash tun will be displaced at the new distillery.

The production site will be moved to a former monastery, now a ruaral farm near Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher west of Liège where the Belgian Owl Whisky matures already. „We will also have a visitor centre in the heart of Hesbaye to teach tourists different ways of whisky production,“ explains Katia Guidolin, the Assistant Manager, „we want people to appreciate our Belgian quality product amidst the fertile barley fields.“

„We are very, very lucky,“ says Christian Polis, who is in charge of finance, „our new distillery project will be co-financed by the influential MEUSINVEST GROUP, which supports various business enterprises in the Province of Liège.“

The new distilling business has started. „We offer the first 200 casks of the Private Angel Range to the whisky enthusiasts around the world,“ tells Étienne Boullion, „and you may place your order from now on.“

Tasting Notes: The Belgian Owl 48 Months, 46% abv

What a fulminant bundle of pleasing aromas! They are fruity and floral, joined by toffee, vanilla and wood flavours. What a wonderful lasting richly textured mouthfeel! The whisky pleases velvetly, runs smooth like cream, offers some sweetness, creates notes of coffee and chocolate. There is an excellent harmony between nose and palate. The new make is indeed perfectly distilled and by no means pungent, very clean, floral and fruity in abundance, smooth and by no means not harsh. Despite its young age the Belgian Owl is full of harmony and delight. It matured in a first-fill Bourbon cask from Heaven Hill Distillery in Kentucky, U.S. It is bottled non-coloured, non-chillfiltered and was reduced with natural water. Whisky like it should be!

For further information open a photographic tour at The Gateway to Distilleries www.whiskydistilleries.net and visit The Owl Distillery at www.belgianwhisky.com

Photos are copyright Ernst J. Scheiner 2012

TOP the  Caperdonich stills

MIDDLE Passionate Master Distiller Etienne Bouillon and his 1890 Alambics

BOTTOM the Bottle and the Glass

The fall is an active time for whisky shows around the world and the ambassadors are on the road promoting their whiskies with an eye on the hectic and lucrative Christmas season (& beyond). Whisky Intelligence has presented a selection here today. Plan on attending at least one event this fall….