NEW CANADIAN WHISKY BOOK – CHAPTERS-INDIGO PICK FOR FATHER’S DAY

Father’s Day shopping for the man who has everything is a whole lot easier this year thanks to Chapters and Indigo bookstores. Canada’s nationwide bookseller recommends Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert for Dad this year.

Forget the joke socks and blaring neckties. The most difficult member of the family to shop for will spend hours pouring over this new book about North America’s most popular whisky.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert is displayed on Father’s Day tables in Indigo and Chapters bookstores and is featured on-line in Indigo’s Father’s Day brochure.

Thank you Chapters/Indigo for thinking about Dad.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert is available on line from Indigo here 

Willie Napier Pure Pot Still 44yo. Distilled by B. Daly, Tullamore Distillery, Co Offaly, cask “acquired” in 1945 by W. Napier, The Central Bar,Lisburn,Northern Ireland (possibly distilled prior to 1945). Bottled 1989. 40% 114 bottles. 

“One of the best Irish Whiskeys ever released. Distilled in 1945 at the old Tullamore Distillery and aged for an incredible 44 years. Sadly the distillery closed for good in the 1950’s and this is one of just a few remaining bottlings from that era. This whiskey was drawn from a cask originally bought by the owner of the Cellar Bar in Lisburn. After being forgotten about it was finally bottled in 1989 and then only released for sale in the last decade. It is named after the former owner of the Cellar Bar, Willie Napier”. – Celtic Whiskey Shop 

On the nose there is an immediate sense of age, dusty grains, oak spice and a touch of vanilla at the last; all very nice and very pleasing. After some time in the glass there are hints of some good sweetness (further to the vanilla). The taste is slightly aggressive, diesely malt, some good black pepper and then some fruit along with the oak spice. All very pleasant and warming and quite unlike Irish whiskies of today (which, to be fair, are much younger). The finish is black pepper, grain and oak spice in equal measure with the diesely notes supporting the other characteristics. After a few minutes the grain rises to take the pole position and that is the final memento of a sensational old dram. 

A nice treat to try such a rare sample; many thanks to Joel Mullin for the generous sample. 

€499.99 at the Celtic Whiskey Shop http://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/  

90 points

June 2012 Outturn Offerings 

Boiled sweets and grapefruit peel 

Cask No. 17.32                     

Highlands, Orkney 

Bubble-gum and vanilla sponge, with boiled sweets (pear drops and lemon sherbets); apple & elderflower cordial, white wine jelly; after a while a light soapiness. Fresh and clean overall. The taste is sweet, sharp and hot – grapefruit and lemon peel; powdery, with a pinch of salt. The scent of grapefruit skins increase at reduced strength, and the other aromas remain intact – vanilla, lemon sherbets, pear drops, washing powder. The taste is now sweeter and more salty, with light acidity and an aftertaste of lemon bon-bons. A fresh young aperitif from Orkney’s second distillery. 

Drinking tip: A springtime aperitif 

Colour: Pale gold                                              

Cask: Refill barrel                                            

Age: 9 years                                         

Date distilled: January 2002

Alcohol: 56.2% 

$90 

Powerful, elegant and atmospheric 

Cask No. 33.112                   

Islay, SouthShore 

Youthful, powerful – yes – but also elegant and atmospheric – the nose seemed quintessentially Islay – peat fire smoke and bog myrtle – as well as chocolate, beeswax, salty earthiness, tar and carbolic. The unreduced palate had a tongue-shriveling attack, yet with amazing toffee sweetness; birch tar and waxy textures. Water altered the nose to combine seafood saltiness, herbal, pine resin and citrus elements and something savoury (someone suggested lobster and chorizo). The reduced palate evoked lobster or crab from the grill, some leather, plenty of sweetness and a juicy, youthful energy – we thought it stunning. From the distillery that Glenmorangie re-awakened in 1997. 

Drinking tip: With oysters and lemon wedges in the Harbour Inn; fishing boats bobbing outside… 

Colour: Sunlight on Islay                                 

Cask: Second-fill Sherry butt                            

Age: 5 years                                         

Date distilled: December 2005

Alcohol: 60.8% 

$85

Eve’s pudding in a glass 

Cask No. 50.46                     

Lowlands, Borders 

The room was instantly filled with sweet fruity scents – bruised apples, pineapple, set honey; mellow, rich and opulent: Eve’s Pudding (apple topped with soft sponge), or even tarte tatin. The taste at full strength was not so rich: sharp, after a sweet start – one panellist was reminded of ‘strawberry flavoured cornflour’. Water raised soft pastry, tinned pineapple and baked apple, with some dry straw and boiled sweets (travel sweets dusted with icing sugar), and the taste is now much improved: soft and smooth, with light sweetness, a spicy finish and an overall taste of fresh mandarins. A-typical of the make from our southern-most distillery. 

Drinking tip: Chilled, with Eve’s pudding 

Colour: Full gold                                              

Cask: Refill hogshead                                       

Age: 21 years                                        

Date distilled: May 1990

Alcohol: 54.6% 

$145 

Fascinating and inspiring 

Cask No. G7.2                      

Grain 

We found the nose both fascinating and inspiring – lightly varnished wood, then honey, toffee popcorn and marzipan sweetness; fruit cake (raisins and cherries) and Italian sponge (lemon and vanilla). Typical of grain whiskies, the taste lagged slightly behind – but definitely pleasant – peach and apricot, lemonade, manuka honey, toffee, vanilla, scorched wood, almonds and a lemon peel finish. The reduced nose was light and bright – like sunshine on barley; pineapple, pear, marshmallow, meringue, crème brûlée and sugared rose petals! The palate benefited from water – scented wood, incense, Demerara and a little frisson of nutmeg. The distillery is near the Ayrshire coast. 

Drinking tip: Add a touch of water and take time to enjoy the fabulous nose 

Colour: Brassy gold                                           

Cask: Refill hogshead                                       

Age: 27 years                                        

Date distilled: May 1984

Alcohol: 60.3% 

$175

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com

www.ralfy.com suggests a few good options for that malt-moment with Whisky Review 278 – recommended malt whiskies for 2012

Scotland Blended Scotch

Bank Note Blended Scotch Whisky 1L ($19.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

A.D. Rattray Cask Islay Blended Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($47.99)

Bruichladdich Black Art 2nd Edition 21 Year Old Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($169.99)
Always one of Bruichladdich’s more esoteric offerings, yet by no means less brilliant, the Black Art series alludes to Jim McEwan’s almost devilish ability to conjure up flavors never-before seen in single malt whisky. Using a combination of various wine casks, this 21 year old whisky undergoes a transformation that takes the rich, oily textures of old Bruichladdich and combines it with cherries, blackberries, currants, and a melee of other red-fruited delights. The vanilla and oak come smoothly on the finish. It’s a decadent whisky and it’s always quick to sell out. Grab it while it’s here. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Bruichladdich Organic Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($59.99)

Bunnahabhain 20 Year Old A.D. Rattray Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($125.99)

Glenkinchie 20 year old, Distillery Bottling 750ml – 4 available ($179.00)

Octomore 3 152 ppm Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 7 available ($159.99)

Octomore 4.1 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($169.99)

Octomore 4.2 Comus Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($189.99)
Peated at 167 ppm and run at a slow drip through the still, the Octomore from Bruichladdich is the peatiest whisky in the world. At a whopping 61%, this new 4.2 Comus release has been finished in Chateau d’Yquem casks, adding richness to the bright, almost cinnamon-like peat of the Octomore whisky. Rich golden raisins with a peaty punch in the face. Tropical fruits smoked and caramelized to high heaven. This is not for the faint of heart, yet it’s something everyone should try at least once (and perhaps several times for the truly hedonistic).

PC8 – Port Charlotte Ar Duthchas Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 7 available ($99.99)

Port Charlotte “An Turas Mor” Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($59.99)

Big Peat Islay Vatted Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($59.99)

Oban 18 Year Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $149.99) ($99.99)
91 points Malt Advocate: “Drier, less toffee and fruit, more dried spice and oak when compared to the standard Oban 14 year old. A beautiful combination of rich, nutty toffee balanced by polished oak, salt, pepper, seaweed, distant smoke, and dried fruit. Somewhat oily in texture. Wonderful depth, too! An improvement on what is already the biggest-selling Diageo single malt scotch in the U.S. Very exciting and dynamic. (Vol. 17, #4, by John Hansell)” K&L Notes: Always tough to find – this is a limited edition bottling for the US only. As the cannister states, “only so much can be made, it is never enough.”

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

The Dalmore Introduces New Packaging

The Dalmore is introducing new packaging across its core range designed to reinforce its luxury credentials and give the bottle and packaging greater prominence “on shelf”.

Each and every bottle of The Dalmore will now feature a solid silver stag, which proudly represents the distillery’s iconic heritage and links with the notable Mackenzie clan, who were awarded the use of the 12-point royal stag emblem upon saving the life of King Alexander III in 1263.

Clean and contemporary lines, labels and communication feature heavily in the new range which increases clarity and brand stand out, meaning consumers can easily identify with the brand, the expression and its maturation statement.

The cartons will have a textured dimension to add a sensory experience to purchase and the King Alexander III expression will be in a front reveal style carton which can be opened up to display the bottle on shelf. The colour palate used across the new designs are deep heritage inspired colours chosen to reflect the rich history of the brand and also the colours in the famous painting ‘Fury of a Stag*’ which depicts the event in which the Mackenzie clan saved the King.

The new pack design will be applied across the core Dalmore range – 12, 15, 18, Cigar Malt Reserve and King Alexander III – and will demonstrate a clear progression of a luxurious look and feel between the core range and the prestigious rare Dalmore range, which includes gems such as Trinitas, Aurora and Candela.

Packaging will be rolled out across markets from May 2012.

* The ‘Fury of a Stag’ painting by Benjamin West which depicts Colin Mackenzie (Fitzgerald) saving the King’s life can be viewed in the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Chris Watt, The Dalmore Head of Brand:

“Our distillery has been producing exceptional single malts since 1839 and we have some of the rarest aged whisky stocks in the world. Our malts exude quality, craftsmanship and liquid excellence and we feel that the new packaging introduction brings our image proudly in line with that.”

About The Dalmore

The Dalmore is home to some of the rarest and most exclusive whiskies in the world, including The Dalmore Trinitas which was the first whisky to break the £100,000 barrier. Situated on the banks of the Cromartie Firth, Scotland, the distillery has been producing exceptional single malts since 1839.

The legend that surrounds The Dalmore harks back to 1263 when a member of the Mackenzie clan saved King Alexander III from being gored by a charging stag. The grateful King granted the Mackenzie clan the right to bear the 12-point royal stag in their coat of arms. The Mackenzie clan was long owned by The Mackenzie family which is why every bottle of The Dalmore is adorned with the proud stag emblem, reinforcing its royal pedigree.

www.thedalmore.com 

Scapa 16yo (40%, OB, 2010) 

The replacement for the official bottling of the much loved 14yo (which was priced some what lower). None the less on the nose there is some very nice maltiness (lots of grain notes and very much the malt barn memories or even sweeping up split grain at Springbank; up on the top floor where the pigeons roost). There’s also a herbaceous note behind the malt and some nice sweetness, perhaps from some ex- American cask influence? The sweetness is quite fruity; lychee and marmalade. The taste is much like the nose but leans a little more to leather and tobacco with the ever present malt, the sweetness has vanished some what but what’s left is very good. All in all very enjoyable. The finish is an even mix of the malt and the leather and tobacco with some good black pepper and what not towards the end. Lots of mouth smacking malt and some bourbon notes and even a few hints of juniper. Long. 

Very nice, much drier than the 14yo which was very sweet but no complaints. 

C$110 (in some markets) 

86 Points

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #11

In his 11th Whisky Rambling on video, Belgian whisky blogger Mark Dermul takes us to an iconic movie location from Star Wars in Tunisia (which he has just restored with some friends), where he tasts the Highland Park Leif Eriksson. May the Malt/Force be with you!

http://youtu.be/a5LL0u3WwUE

PARK AVENUE LIQUOR SHOP HELPS YOU PICK

THE BEST SINGLE MALT WHISKY FOR DAD ON FATHER’S DAY

New York, NY (June , 2012) – June is just around the corner and you may be asking yourself – what in the world am I going to get dad? Another tie? Swim Trunks? Fancy razor? No, no not this year!  This year give him something that will make you both happy (because you hope he’ll share) – Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The experts from iconic spirits and wine retailer Park Avenue Liquor Shop have put together a little checklist to help you navigate the special world of single malt scotches and get dad what he really wants for Father’s Day (June 17).  Park Avenue Liquor Shop boasts one of the largest collections of single malt whiskies at retail in the country and they are happy to make delivery arrangements for dad.  All you have to do is decide on the bottle(s) and either visit the store or place your order online or via phone (212.685.2442; http://www.parkaveliquor.com/).

There are a number of questions you have to consider before zeroing in on that special bottle for Dad.  From Jonathan Goldstein, Park Avenue Liquor Shop proprietor, single malt expert and a Keeper of the Quaich, here is your checklist:

1.    Does he even like Scotch? Have you seen him drink it before? You would be surprised how many people come in and ask for a Single Malt because their Dad drinks Wild Turkey. Well this is nice but Wild Turkey is Bourbon and this is a different animal entirely (no pun intended).

2.    Do you know what brands he drinks? This will help your ‘expert’ determine what area(s) of Scotland to select from. An Islay whisky like Bowmore is very different from a Speyside whisky like Balvenie. The names of even a few of the labels will help greatly. It might even help to know what he doesn’t like.

3.    Budget. How much are you willing to spend and how many bottles do you want for your money. Do you want one super bottle? Do you want a variety of bottles to start a collection? Again, something to think about in advance. Your ‘expert’ should be able to find excellent choices in all price ranges. In addition, he or she should be able to offer something new. Distilleries are always trying to keep things exciting with new offerings. Highland Park just released THOR – part 1 of a 4 part Valhalla series. Glenmorangie has a line-up of malts in all price ranges.

4.    Is Dad a serious collector of Single Malt Whisky? Many distilleries create investment worthy bottles. These can get quite expensive. A recent bottling of Dalmore Sherry Finesse retails for $785. A great alternative for collectors are “exclusive” bottlings.  Here at Park Avenue Liquor Shop we have more that a dozen exclusives, like casks of whisky that we have purchased for the shop. These bottles cannot be purchased anywhere else. For example, we have a Glen Garioch 13 year old for $100 a bottle, a 35 year old Single grain bottled by Clan Denny from Cambus distillery at cask strength for $190 a bottle, and a 42 year old Strathisla bottled by Gordon and MacPhail for $400 a bottle.

All of the above questions are meant to help you and your ‘expert’ determine the best choice for dear old Dad. Do your homework now and feel confident that the bottle Dad receives is the one he really wants.

For the ultimate hard-copy guide to single malts, ask Park Avenue Liquor Shop to send you THE LIST – their all-encompassing brochure of more than 300 single malt Scotches available at retail.  THE LIST is a jaw-dropping selection of Scotch, arranged by region (Speyside, Eastern Highlands,NorthernHighlands, Southern Highlands,WesternHighlands, Lowland, Campbeltown, Islay, Orkney, Arran, Jura, Mull and Skye) that includes exact age statements, proofs and prices.  For single malt aficionados, this list is worthy of a long meditative moment, most likely while sipping a Scotch and perhaps having a double corona size cigar.  

ABOUT PARK AVENUE LIQUOR SHOP (http://www.parkaveliquor.com)

Considered by many to be one of the most respected spirits and wine retailer in the United States, Park Avenue Liquor Shop opened its doors in 1934 on Park Avenue in New York City, not long after Prohibition was repealed in December 1933.  In 1955, Herman J. Goldstein took over as owner and it has been with the Goldstein family ever since.  In 1975, the family relocated the store to its current address at 292 Madison Avenue and today, the second and third generations of Goldsteins are at the helm – father Michael is president and sons Jonathan (whisky expert and member of The Keeper of the Quaich) and Eric run the operations, along with manager/part owner Scott Abramson who has been with the company since 1988.  Park Avenue Liquor Shop was named 2010 Retailer of the Year by Whisky Magazine because of its knowledgeable staff and extensive selection of single malt whiskies (close to 400 bottlings currently in stock; more than any other retailer in the U.S.).  Park Avenue Liquor Shop is also one of the world’s premier wine shops, carrying a vast and enviable inventory of Bordeaux and Burgundies, many of which are very rare and hard to find. 

 Park Avenue Liquor Shop                  EM: info@parkaveliquor.com           WEB: http://www.parkaveliquor.com/       

292 Madison Avenue                          FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/b9ClrN     TWITTER: @ParkAveLiquor

New York, NY 10017                          PHONE: 212.685.2442 

Store Hours: Monday thru Friday 8am – 7pm; Saturday Closed in the summer; Sunday Closed 

Nomination close for the all-time 2012 design contest

The all-time 2012 nominations are now closed. There are still 3 months left to give your star-ratings for the best 10 finalists in every category. For those who like statistics. In total we have 114 nominees assigned as follow: 62 … Continue reading →