SULLIVANS COVE named Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year in 2013 Whisky Bible

Sullivans Cove, Tasmania’s luxury single malt whisky, has been named Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray’s 2013 Whisky Bible.

Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask HH509 scored 96.5/100, the highest score ever achieved by a Southern Hemisphere whisky, and was named Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year. It is one of only 60 out of 4500 whiskies to have scored 96.5 and above, placing this exceptional whisky in the top 1% of whiskies ever made.

Now in its 10th year, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible aims to annually score every whisky available on the market. The book currently list 4,500 whiskies, each individually tasted, evaluated and rated by Murray, with the 2013 edition adding 1,300 whiskies to the list.

2012 has been a fantastic year for the boutique Tasmanian producer, winning Gold at the World Whisky Masters, being named Australasian Distiller of the Year at the Wizards of Whisky and now completing the grand slam with Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year.

Speaking from LA where he is currently on tour promoting the USA launch of Sullivans Cove, Chief distiller Patrick Maguire was delighted with the results: “This is the second time this week that I have been called up with great news. First it was Australasian Distiller of the Year and now Jim Murray’s Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year! This is the greatest moment of my distilling career. To be awarded that kind of score by Jim Murray is just unbelievable. I would like to say a big thanks to the team back home; this is true testament to our hard work and its just such a great feeling to know that you have made an historic whisky. Huge party at the distillery when I get back!”

According to Murray, Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask HH509 “…re-wrote the Australian whisky books…it is not just the best whisky I tasted from Taz (sic), but it walked off with Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year. Not only that, it made its way to the Whisky Bible World Whisky of the Year taste off conducted among the six best whiskies I had tasted this year, hob-nobbing with the likes of Buffalo Trace, Ardbeg and Ballantine’s 17.”

This adds to Tasmanian whisky’s growing reputation for excellent whisky. In addition to Sullivans Cove, which has now won its third “Liquid Gold” award, Old Hobart Distillery and Nant Distillery have both achieve “Liquid Gold” status. Jim Murray awards Liquid Gold status to whiskies that score 94/100 or higher in his Whisky Bible and these whiskies are considered to be the very finest currently available in the world.

About Sullivans Cove

Tasmania Distillery produces Sullivans Cove Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky. Sullivans Cove Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky is double distilled using only Tasmanian barley with only the purest wilderness water from local mountains and forests. Matured in hand selected oak casks and allowed to settle and clear naturally, the whiskies retain full, creamy and lingering flavours that are winning fans the world over. Each cask is bottled separately, yielding only around 450 bottles, making each bottle a rare item to own and enjoy.

Tasmania Distillery Pty Ltd

New Glenfarclas 105 Aged 20 Years

The limited edition Glenfarclas 105 Aged 20 Years has now been released and is making its way to specialist whisky retailers worldwide. Matured for 20 years and bottled at natural cask strength of 60% volume, only 4000 bottles of this remarkable whisky will be available.

This is the second time J. & G. Grant have released an older expression of Glenfarclas 105. The first was in 2008 when the limited edition 40 year old version was launched to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the first bottling of 105.

In 1968 when George S. Grant, 4th generation of the owning family, bottled a single cask straight from the warehouse, and sent the bottles to family and friends as Christmas gifts. By chance the strength of the cask George S. Grant selected was ‘105’ British Proof, and along with the name of the distillery, this was all the information he detailed on the hand written label. By the end of January the recipients of the gifts requested further bottles, hence Glenfarclas ‘105’, the first commercially available cask strength whisky of the modern age was born. The name refers to the strength in the British Proof system, equivalent to 60% alcohol by volume.

Commenting on this new limited edition from Glenfarclas, George S Grant, Director of Sales and 6th generation of the owning family said, ‘My family have been producing Glenfarclas 105 for 3 generations now and the 20 Year Old makes a great addition to the ‘105’ family, along with the 105 and 105 40 Years Old. This is a 105 as it should be – big and powerful with all the classic Glenfarclas flavours coming through. Definitely a dram to savour as the finish just goes on and on.’

To read George’s tasting notes please click here to visit our website.

Glenfarclas
Website: www.glenfarclas.co.uk
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/glenfarclas/
Glenfarclas Distillery, Ballindalloch, Banffshire AB37 9BD, UK

www.ralfy.com talks about a standard blended scotch, which can be better than a single malt, why?

Watch Whisky Review 313 – Crawfords 3 Star to find out!

WORLD’S BEST BLENDED WHISKY GOES LARGE 

Whisky. Who makes the World’s best? This question appeared about two weeks ago on a billboard close to Johannesburg’s CBD.

If you haven’t seen it and don’t know the answer, we invite you to get into your car and take a journey of discovery along either the M1 North or South – head for De Korte Street. Or take this virtual journey on Facebook.

The answer to this question will then be revealed to you, and is a Proudly South African one, with top honours going to the Three Ships Premium Select 5 year old, named the World’s Best Blended Whisky 2012 at the annual Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards. It is a testament to the pioneering spirit of Three Ships and being able to showcase these credentials is just reward for a team that has been on a journey of discovery, always striving to produce the kind of quality that is praised all over the world, but can be enjoyed right here in South Africa.

Taste the unpretentious yet bold 5 year old for yourself at this year’s FNB Whisky Live Festival, which is happening at the Sandton Convention Centre from 7 to 9 November. You’ll discover there Three Ships’ 10-year-old, 100% locally produced single malt that will change any impression you might have had that the art of making whisky is the preserve of the Scots only.

Private tastings by Andy Watts, master distiller and blender of the Three Ships range, can be arranged by booking it on the evening at the Three Ships stand. For more information visit www.whiskylivefestival.co.za, or visit the Three Ships Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ThreeShips

Notes 

The Premium Select 5-year-old is is a superior blend of malt and grain whiskies. It is made using a heavily peated malted barley before being matured for 5 years to create the warm finish, the golden-red sherry tinge, full peaty character and robust, smoky nose that has impressed the world’s premier whisky judges.

Dundee Dell 5007 Underwood Av Omaha, NE 68132
402.553.9501
www.dundeedell.com

Two distillery tours to Scotland are being offered by the Dundee Dell in coordination with William “Willie” Wallace of Celtic Legend Tours in March and April, 2013. Michael LaCroix is facilitating the March tour which focuses on distilleries on the Eastern Side of Scotland, Speyside, and the Orkneys. The one in April, lead by Mary Kelly Hink, will focus on Islay and western Scotland distilleries.

The March tour will depart from Omaha on Thursday, March 7, 2013, fly to Scotland via Newark (United) and return on Saturday, March 16. Early Friday morning, March 8, the driver/guide will meet us at the Edinburgh airport in 9-seater VW Caravelle transporter van and drive north to do a tour and tasting at Aberlour Distillery (a six dram tutored tasting with three of the drams cask strength).

On Saturday, we will tour Glenfiddich and Glen Grant. Since no distilleries are open on Sunday in March, we will travel to Orkey and pick up a bit of history along the way.

At Highland Park on Monday, we will take the Magnus Eunson tour which includes a 20ml bottle from a cask to take with us. Following a quick visit to Scapa (which will not let us in), we visit some prehistoric sites on Orkney.

The following day (Tues) we will ferry off Orkney and take a manager-led tour and tasting at Old Pultney. Then on down to Clynlish for a further tour and tasting.

On Wednesday, we will have tastings and tours at Glenmorangie and Dalmore plus some free time in Inverness.

On Thursday, we will begin with a tour at Balvenie which includes its own floor maltings and cooperage as part of the tour and from there go on to Tomintoul.

On Friday, we will tour at Glencadam or Fettercairn before going to Ediburgh and a bit of free time. Our final night will include a stop at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society for a tasting and a dinner at local restaurant.
Saturday, March 16, is the departure date for the return to the US.

The tour price is will be US $1800, including driver/guide, 9 -seater transporter van; return ferry to Orkney; two nights Garth Hotel, Grantown on Spey; two nights in Orkney Hotel, Kirkwall; one night in Royal Hotel, Tain; two nights in Mashtun Hotel, Aberlour; and one night, Point Hotel, Edinburgh.

It does not include airfare and meals other than breakfasts, and various entrances, tours, and tastings. Willie plans on departing for northern Scotland from the Edinburgh Airport after the tour members on the non-stop flight from Newark clear immigration on Friday, March 8. (United Flight 36 is scheduled to arrive at 7:25 am.) Some people already signed up are planning to use other airlines and come in a day or two earlier.

If you are interested in the March tour please contact Michael LaCroix at lacroix@creighton.eduor or (cell) 402-690-3686 as soon as possible. There are only four places left on this terrific tour and we hope you can make it. If you are interested in the April tour (more info to follow about this one) please contact Mary Hink at the Dell 402-553-9501 or www.dundeedell.com This is an amazing deal and will be a lot of fun and just imagine all the fantastic scotch you’ll get to try!!

Wait up! Lets go talk and taste with these guys from as great and as contrasting distilleries as you could find. A special collection of events has been prepared for the season. PLEASE book early to avoid disappointment :-

Colin Dunn – Friday 23rd November – £25
Diageo 2012 Special Release Tasting – 8 extraordinary Drams. An incredible opportunity to taste the whole line up on the occasion of world wide release. Lagavuilin 21 yo, Port Ellen 32 yo , Brora 35 yo, Talisker 35 yo, Caol Ila 14 yo, Dalwhinnie 25 yo, Lagavulin 12 yo CS, Auchroisk 30 yo. NB :TOWN HALL VENUE/Amblecote room.

Bruichladdich Distillery -Tuesday 27th November – £25
Its been a while folks since this Islay favorite was brought to Stourbridge but from what I hear said about Craig Johnstone’s whisky presentations it was well worth the wait….Bring it on! Bruichladdich Islay Dunlossit Barley 2006, Bruichladdich Laddie Ten yo, Bruichladdich Laddie Sherry 22 yo, Bruichladdich Black Art III 22 yo, Port Charlotte Peat Project + Secret Laddie Special !

Glenfarclas – George Grant Cask Tasting Friday 14th December – £35
George is a well seasoned raconteur, with a most engaging sense of purpose in his position as 6th generation Director of The Glenfarclas owning family. You fortunate few will be given the chance to taste distillery dunnage Sherry cask samples from these decades : 1950’s / 1960’s / 1970’s / 1980’s / 1990’s + the N&Ps Special Glenfarclas release. We shall taste and discuss the complexity and changes in casks over the years added to which Georges insight will be invaluably relevant. LIMITED PLACES :4 tickets per persons maximum.

Slainte!

Contact : David on 01384 394518
Call in at Nickolls and Perks Shop
37 Lower High Street, Stourbridge.DY8 1TA.

A Taste from the Past – Grant’s World Traveller Collection

Hi all,

I purchased this decanter at auction a few weeks ago not knowing much about it, but it’s turned out to be quite an interesting find. Few people in the company could remember much about it – not because it was bottled decades ago (we think it’s from the late 1980s), but because it was a…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,
Ludo

TWE Whisky Show 2012 – From Scotland to Japan

One of the things that we’ve become known for at TWE Whisky Show is our masterclasses. From the legendary Port Ellen vertical in our first year, to Serge Valentin’s Brora masterclass in year two and last year’s Gordon & Macphail … Continue reading >>

BUSHMILLS IRISH WHISKEY® PARTNERS WITH LOWDEN® TO CREATE HANDCRAFTED WHISKEY BARREL OAK GUITARS

Bushmills Village: Bushmills Irish Whiskey, which has been handcrafted on the North Coast of Ireland for centuries, has partnered with world famous luthier, George Lowden, to create three special-edition guitars, handmade from barrel-oak used in the whiskey making process.

Bushmills Irish Whiskey and George Lowden Guitars are both known and loved around the world. Based in Northern Ireland, George and his team have handmade guitars for some of most famous names in the music, including Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and The Edge.

The handmade barrel oak guitars were presented to singer-songwriter Foy Vance and other artists as a thank-you for their participation in Bushmills Live, the handcrafted whiskey and music festival which took place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on 20th and 21st June 2012.

Created by George Lowden and his team of master craftsmen at his workshop in Downpatrick, County Down, the guitar-making process took more than three months and presented a series of unique technical challenges.

The oak that the guitars were made from was from former Oloroso sherry casks, used in the making of Bushmills Black Bush, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey and Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey.

The nature and curve of the whiskey barrel oak meant that each stave of wood had to be carefully sanded by hand to the necessary thickness and required shape. Each stave was then painstakingly glued together to create panels that retained the contours of the original whiskey barrel.

Those panels rested in the workshop for several weeks as the wood bound together, before they were hand-cut by George Lowden to guitar templates he has been using for almost 40 years.

Then, using hand-tools such as Japanese chisels, planes and knives, the team at Lowden assembled the guitars, incorporating the whiskey barrel oak into traditional Lowden ‘F’ and ‘O’ body designs.

The result is three guitars unlike any others ever made. With a distinct sound and even more distinct look, they are as much works of art as they are instruments.

Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, Colum Egan, said: “To see barrels that have housed our whiskey being used in this way is remarkable. Their creation celebrates the handcrafted qualities at the heart of both Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Lowden Guitars and I want to thank George and his team for making them. Like our whiskey they weren’t made for the cupboard and it is great to see some world class musicians putting them to good use. The guitars were the perfect way to thank the musicians who performed at Bushmills Live.”

George Lowden said: “Making any guitar by hand is highly challenging but these guitars presented a few more issues than most. It was an enormous privilege to work with such special wood and it took me and my team a considerable amount of time to create them. However, what we have managed to do is to create something quite special. We enjoyed working in partnership with Bushmills on the project and were delighted that the musicians who received the guitars were so pleased with them.”

To find out more about Bushmills Irish Whiskey or to see a gallery of images from the making of the Lowden Guitars from Bushmills barrel oak, log on to facebook.com/bushmills1608

Buffalo Trace Fans,

It is ALMOST time for the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection—

STOP! PLEASE READ! STOP! PLEASE READ!

WE HAVE MADE A MAJOR CHANGE IN HOW WE SELL SPECIAL WHISKEY RELEASES

Starting this year, the Antique Collection will only be sold online. There will be NO SALES of the BTAC in person, in the store, whatsoever. This means there will be no line at the door when we open in the morning. Please do not come to the store expecting to buy a bottle in person. You may direct the bottles for shipment, or schedule them for pick-up in person at The Party Source. The same limits—SEE BELOW—will apply as in previous releases. (Also, this same policy will apply to future Van Winkle releases.)

The 2012 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) will go on sale from The Party Source website only on Tuesday, October 23, at 12:00 p.m. noon EST. At that time, you will receive an email containing links to the BTAC online. You may use those links to purchase the items.

The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection consists of:
George T. Stagg
Eagle Rare 17
Sazerac Rye 18
William Larue Weller
Thomas Handy Rye

To distribute these coveted whiskeys to as many Bourbon lovers as possible, sales of the BTAC are limited as follows:

1) The BTAC is limited to ONE ORDER PER PERSON/HOUSEHOLD/ADDRESS. Attempts to place multiple orders will result in the summary deletion of the order, without notification.
2) A BTAC order may consist of ONE bottle of George T. Stagg, plus your choice of ONE additional BTAC bottle, while supplies last.
3) If you do not want any Stagg, you are not required to buy it— however you may still buy only ONE other BTAC bottle of your choice.
4) We cannot sell two bottles of the same whiskey, under any circumstances.
5) Sales of the BTAC are from our website only, first come, first serve; there is no waiting list or reservation.

The price this year for the BTAC is $69.99 per bottle