Archive for 2012

ALL CHANGE FOR HIGHLAND PARK WITH NEW DISTILLERY MANAGER – Scotch Whisky News

ALL CHANGE FOR HIGHLAND PARK WITH NEW DISTILLERY MANAGER 

The Edrington Group has announced two significant changes in personnel for its single malt brands with the appointment of new distillery managers for both Highland Park and The Macallan.

Long serving Highland Park distillery manager Russell Anderson, is set to take the reins at The Macallan, after a total of 15 years in Orkney.  After two stints at the home of the Best Spirit in the World, Russell has handed the role of manager over to Graham Manson, a former engineering manager at North British Distillery.

Russell Anderson makes a return to Speyside, where he previously  worked as production manager from 1998 until 2000, to work alongside the production and warehousing teams as The Macallan looks to maximise the opportunities presented by the growth of single malt whisky around the world.  

Graham Manson brings over 25 years of experience in the Scotch Whisky industry within the specific areas of engineering and production, working for Bell’s, Diageo and latterly North British Distillery, where he was engineering manager from 1997 until joining The Edrington Group.

Commenting on his new role, Graham said, “Having worked for North British for the past 15 years, I was seeking a fresh challenge where I could put all my skills into practice whilst genuinely making my mark on a business.  The Highland Park role presented the perfect combination for me.”

Graham MacWilliam, General Manager, Distillation at The Edrington Group said: “These are exciting times for our single malts and these appointments are a reflection of the changing face of our distillation requirements and business needs.  Russell makes a welcome return to Speyside after many years of exceptional commitment and focus to help take Highland Park to the place it is today.  His new role at Macallan will add further resource and experience to a great team as we look to the future of this iconic brand.

“Graham is the right manager to build on Russell’s achievements and continue to drive the distillery forward.  His strong technical experience combined with his passion and energy will provide us with a first class distillery manager.”

The Latest Headlines From The Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News

Please find the latest headlines from The Whisky Shop.

Highland Park and Isle Of Jura Limited releases now in stock… – 20 April 2012 The Whisky shop has added to the Glenkeir Treasure…

Link to full article: http://www.whiskyshop.com/News/?id=10079

Balvenie 1978 Only Two bottles left in stock – 20 April 2012 Only two bottles of this left in stock. 

Link to full article: http://www.whiskyshop.com/News/?id=10080

Kind Regards

The Whisky Shop
www.whiskyshop.com

FWL Whisky Selection: 2012 Drammie Award Double Winner: Laphroaig – Scotch Whisky News

Hello Fellow WhiskeyLovers –

Forgive me for not writing last week. I was trapped aboard a cruise ship with my family and 2400 other raving lunatics from the greater NYC area. Despite assurances from the cruise operator that there would be high-speed Wifi available everywhere on-board, the internet access took me back to the days of my 56k baud modem…it was essentially non existent.

Nevertheless you all kept the FWL flame hot by burning up the voting for the winners of the 2012 Drammie Awards. In the final voting round we received votes from over 7,000 unique visitors from 16 different countries…providing a loud and clear “voice of WhiskeyLovers everywhere”.

So who won?

Well..for starts…we had one double winner for two categories.

Best Distillery Tour 2012; Distillery of the Year 2012: Laphroaig.

To see the complete list of 2012 Drammie Awards winners, click here.

So what better way to congratulate the distillery on their double-win, than to feature my favorite Laphroaig expression in this weeks letter: Laphroaig 18 YO Islay Single Malt Whisky.

Laphroaig 18 YO is made in limited quantities each year and savoured by a fortunate few. There is a soft, sweet and spicy Islay peat smoke that greets you when you first open the bottle. The immediate taste is an oak sweetness, from 18 long and lovley years in the barrel. Thereafter a faint hint of the sea can be detected, which bears testimony to its time maturing on the remote island of Islay. The whisky is bottled at 48% ABV and non-chill filtered for a depth of taste and texture.

My friend John Hansell, in his Whisky Advocate blog, described Laphroag 18 as “Very smooth for Laphroaig-the extra aging has mellowed this whisky. Soothing honeyed malt, creamy vanilla and toffee provide a bed for peat smoke, charcoal, tar, along with more subtle brine, smoked seaweed, anise, ginger and citrus. A, gentler, creamier, more tactile, less medicinal Laphroaig when compared to some of its siblings …The higher strength (and no chill-filtering) of the 18 is certainly a bonus….”

As mentioned, this is a limited production whisky…but as always, one phone call to our man Nickey “the Neck” and. voila, our distribution center now has more than our fair share. Which means we can offer you a bottle of Laphroaig 18 YO Islay Single Malt for $94.75/ bottle (limit 2-bottles each please).

I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to purchase this amazing whisky while it’s still available…because once it’s gone…

And until next week…have fun!

Doug Stone
Founder
ForWhiskeyLovers.com

________________________________________________________________________
LAPHROAIG 18YO ISLAY SINGLE MALT WHISKY

________________________________________________________________________

DISTILLERS’ TASTING NOTES

COLOUR: Bright Gold

NOSE: At bottling strength, a soft toffee sweet but faintly spicy flavour counterbalances the trace of delicate phenols and fruit. An all encompassing smoothness brings these together. A touch of water allows the seaweed and salt to come through but not enough to overpower the vanilla and honey sweetness with just a trace of new mown hay and peat at the finish.

BODY: An intense depth that is exceptionally balanced and warming.

TASTE: An instant warming tang of smoke fades into smooth floral scents, which blends seamlessly into an oaky nuttiness and leaves a lasting sweetness on the taste. With a touch of water, the peaty warmth fills the mouth but does not overshadow the sweet chocolate smoothness. This is balanced by the rich toffee taste and slowly fades into a delicate hint of heather and peat smoke.

FINISH: Full bodied, long with a luxurious oily smoothness.

” A-Z of the World’s Best Bars: S and T” Says The Master Blender – Whisky News

A-Z of the World’s Best Bars: S and T

Well then, here we are at the tail end of the alphabet with some great suggestions from the Whyte & Mackay team about the best bars in the world starting with S and T. Remember, if one of your favourites isn’t there, let us know about it! 

S 

Skyye Bar, UB City, Banglagore, India

A restaurant that brings the world and serves it to you on a platter, a bar that offers the world’s finest spirits and a lounge that lets you take your place in the heavens, night after night. Skyye encompasses the best of the world together in a location guaranteed to take your breath away.    

St. Andrews Bar, Coatbridge, Scotland

As well as a wonderful range of whiskies, including some rarities, the bar also serves real ales and regularly features in CAMRA’s best bar listings. 

Skansen Hotel,  Orebro Island, Sweden

We only need a few words to describe this hotel – A mecca for whisky lovers, stocks an amazing 1200 whiskies!   Go there now!

Sixty, Moscow, Russia

The highest restaurant in Europe and one of the most fashionable restaurants in Russia  

St Julien Hotel &Spa, Boulder, Colorado, USA

Luxurious, comfortable, relaxing and great food and drink available 

Smoke House Grill, New Delhi, India

Features a contemporary European menu using innovative cooking styles and the freshest ingredients with an accent on smoked food and drink. 

Spice Market, Melbourne, Australia

An opulent bar restaurant providing a distinctly Far Eastern experience.  If its mezze inspired menu and spirited drinks list wasn’t enough to tempt you, then you must at least visit this venue to see its dazzling opulent decor.     

T 

The Dram, Glasgow, Scotland

Its name says it all!  Situated in the West End of Glasgow this bar is a firm favourite with locals and students from the nearby Glasgow University.  Its full of cosy corners, candles and comfy sofas and with over 75 different drams on offer, it really is the perfect place to relax. 

Tito’s, Goa, India

The Most talked about night club in Goa , Titos is well known for its variety of spirits, music and entertainments, A hot destination  for nightlife lovers, party animals and celebrities.  

Typhoon Cocktail Bar at The Gulf Hotel, Bahrain

A city hotspot that is packed with Bahrain’s trendy and sophisticated locals throughout the week.  This bar has a great selection of cocktails, spirits and malt whiskies that you can enjoy in the lounge, out on the deck or in the wonderful tropical garden.  

So, where have we missed out? Let us know!

Scotch Whisky Tastings at The Dundee Dell – Scotch Whisky News

Next week Sunday though Thursday one of our specials will be peg price (1 ounce) for a dram (1.5 ounce) of ALL of our spirits (bourbon, scotch, Irish whiskeys and blends)!!! WOW, That’s a great deal, make sure to text “THEDELL” to 90210!

Our next scotch tastings will be:

-Sunday, May 6

-Sunday, June 3

-Sunday, July 1

They start at 4 p.m. and you learn and get to discuss them and have fun doing it! Our MEGA tasting will be in August, more details to follow.

Visit the Dundee Dell at www.dundedell.com

BOWMORE ISLAY SINGLE MALT CALLS ON FANS TO NAME ITS NEXT BOTTLING! – Scotch Whisky News

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

BOWMORE® ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY IS CALLING ALL FANS TO NAME ITS NEXT BOTTLING

– Contest Takes Place on Bowmore Facebook Page From April 19 – May 18, 2012 –

All Consumers Who Chose The Winning Name Are Entered Into A Drawing

To Win A Bespoke Bowmore Tweed Jacket

Islay, Scotland (April 2012) – Bowmore®, the first Islay Single Malt whisky, sees a storm brewing. This isn’t an unusual occurrence at Loch Indaal, home to the Bowmore distillery, where it can go from flat calm to churning whitecaps and huge swells and back again in the span of a few minutes. No, this storm is over a very special bottling of Bowmore. The spirit is ready: a small-batch powerhouse that captures the might of the gales that batter the Scottish island of Islay that Bowmore has called its home since 1779, but the name is not.

This special whisky, aged ten years in first fill Bourbon casks and bottled at cask strength, tastes of the very sea itself, bursting with the soul of the untamed Scottish weather. It’s sold throughout the world under a ‘tempestuous’ name that can’t be used in the United States, so the fine people of Bowmore have decided to call upon their fans to find a new moniker for this unforgettable Scotch for the US market only.

Beginning Thursday, April 19, Bowmore aficionados are invited to log in and cast their vote for their favorite name via the Bowmore Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/bowmore. They will be asked to choose from two proposed names that embody the wild, raw and seemingly untamed climate that produces Islay’s most distinctive single malt Scotch whisky:

DORUS MOR A Gaelic word for the unpredictable and rough water around Islay

WHIRLPOOL A swirling body of water produced by the meeting of opposing currents

The contest begins on April 19 and ends on May 18, 2012. Bowmore will announce the winning product name to be used only in the United States on their Facebook page (in the rest of the world, the product will still go by its ‘tempestuous’ name). All those that voted for the winning name will automatically be entered into a drawing where a winner will be picked at random to win a bespoke, tailored Bowmore Tweed Jacket. Hand woven on Islay, these beautiful blazers are reserved for Bowmore ambassadors.

For those who have tried this most stormy of Bowmore whiskies, they can rest comfortably knowing that only the name will change. This special Small Batch Release will carry the same aroma of dry peat, the same lemon pepper spice, and the same Bowmore sea-salt tang with hints of citrus. Matured in first fill bourbon barrels, which over time help to bring out Bowmore’s trademark peat smokiness, this non chill-filtered, cask-strength release is a formidable tour de force worthy of a strong name. May the name games begin!

The newly named Bowmore (Small Batch Release; 55.1% ABV) for the US market will be an annual limited edition, non-chill filtered and aged 10 Years. It will launch in the US in Fall/Winter 2012 with 1,200 of bottles available. The approximate retail price is $119.99/750ml and it will be available nationwide.

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; we carefully smoke our malt and use 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 our single malts. We’re one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovels. For our whiskies we draw 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 our spirit. The famous Bowmore No. 1 vaults is where most of our whiskies spend their long lives 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.

ABOUT BOWMORE (www.bowmore.com, www.facebook.com/bowmore)

The award-winning Bowmore portfolio includes Bowmore Legend, 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old Darkest, 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old in addition to special limited-edition bottlings such as Bowmore Black, White, Gold and Bowmore 40 Year Old. Bowmore is available nationwide in the U.S. and in more than 45 countries worldwide.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society “Sweet Dreams: Island Parcel Only £149” – Scotch Whisky News

Sweet Dreams: Island Parcel Only £149

 

We’ve put together a very dreamy parcel…three mouth-watering  bottles from the Islands, and all for only £149!   Enjoy….
       
    3.183 Beach rugby with a hotdog (15YO Islay)

    Initially your nose may detect a slight prickle as it adjusts to 
    our system, followed by the smell of damp driftwood and 
    heather. 

    29.115 Candy floss in a fairground (22YO Islay)
    The nose was savoury (lamb, gammon, smoked sausage) with 
    definite tobacco (Players Navy Cut), peanut M&M’s, Stollen, 
    banana loaf, raisins, cumin and jasmine

    4.160 In a gentleman’s club (14YO Highland Island)
    The nose had polished wood, cigars and leather chairs ‘like a 
    gentleman’s’ club’, lots of cinder toffee, chocolate fingers, 
    pastrami and various fruits 

    Only £149…..BUY 

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.

T.B. Watson Ltd “Drambusters News” Stocks Springbank 21yo – Scotch Whisky News

STOP PRESS ………..STOP PRESS…

Springbank 21yo

BACK IN FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

£200
Only 6 bottles available. Limited to ONE ONLY per customer
If you would like one please call us on
01387256601 between 9am – 5.30pm
or on
07713 566 222 if out of those hours.

BE QUICK THOUGH AS THEY WON’T HANG AROUND TOO LONG!

Our mailing address is:

T.B.Watson Ltd.
11/17 English Street
Dumfries, Scotland DG1 2BU
United Kingdom

Loch Fyne Whiskies To Launch New Website (You’ve Been Warned!) – Scotch Whisky News

Loch Fyne Whiskies Issues Warning, ‘WATCH OUT… ‘

It’s now a whole year since we decided it’s time we had a ‘proper’ website; rather than this that grew from a homepage cobbled in 1998. The last known glitches in the new LFW.co.uk have been frowned into submission and we expect to go live during next week…

Brace yourselves…

Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

The Whisky Lounge Tasting News For April 2012 – Lots to read! – Scotch Whisky News

 

Greetings whisky lovers! 

Where is this year going? It’s spring already and we’re fast approaching our 3rd festival of the year. As the months are flying by we thought we would fire an email to you all and give you a heads up on our latest ventures and Whisky Lounge related news. 

TASTINGS

First up is our latest series of tastings. As usual we’re heading far and wide across the country to deliver some of the very best whiskies to a venue near you. Our new range is here – cask series three – and they’re set to amaze and indoctrinate you all into the vast and incredible world of (mostly) single cask, cask strength whiskies. This line-up will deliver some of the most exciting and best whiskies you’ll taste this year. All of this for only £15 – plus a £5 voucher off a purchase on the night! Just click on the date and venue you are interested in to be taken directly to the page on the website.

Manchester – Friday 11th May, Britons Protection, Manchester

Newcastle – Saturday 12th May, Blackfriars, Newcastle

London – Monday 14th May, The Red Lion, St. James’s, SW1

 
 
We also have a one-off ‘Beginner’s Guide to Whisky’ on the following date at a new venue in Stockport, Greater Manchester;
 
£20 per ticket
 
We’re still working hard to bring our tastings to even more cities around the UK so don’t panic. We know where you live, if we’re not in your area we soon will be! 

FESTIVALS

Our next Festival is London which is running this Friday the 20th and Saturday the 21st at the Royal Horticultural Halls. We still have some places left for the Friday session (5pm-9pm) for anyone looking for a dram in or around the capital this weekend, however the Saturday sessions are completely sold out. For those of you who were lucky enough to get tickets we still have places available for workshops for the Saturday sessions. Click here to find out more. 

Midlands Whisky Fest!

We’ll be setting up our 2nd festival in Stratford on the 19th of May in the Shakespeare Centre with our carnival of Distilleries in tow, to deliver yet more amazing whisky to the people of the Midlands. Click here to find out more.

Leeds Whisky Festival!

Our first festival in the city of Leeds is on the 2nd of June at the o2 Academy. This is set to be one of the biggest events outside of the capital and will be giving Manchester a run for its money with more whisky related fun and games than ever before. Leeds Whisky Fest is set to be a real celebration of our favourite and much loved spirit. Not one to be missed! Click here to find out more.

Liverpool Whisky Festival!

Calm down, Calm down! (sorry, couldn’t resist!) The much anticipated 2nd Liverpool whisky fest is now live and on the website – details of exhibitors and classes will appear very soon, but we can confirm that the event will be taking place on the 8th of September at the Camp & Furnace. Featuring the usual galaxy of drams with their kaleidoscope of flavours, click here for the website link

As with all our festivals you can expect the latest and most sought after whiskies under the sun. So don’t hang about get on board if you’re not already and let’s taste some amazing whisky!

Other News

In other news our latest festival in Brighton went down a storm click here to take a look at how The Whisky Lounge’s trip to the sea side went down. 

Also the very latest innovation in whisky entertainment is here in our Whisky Mission #3 part 2. Click here to see Joe shouting the good word of whisky to a square full of Londoners at lunchtime near Soho – yes he appears to be quite mad, but very entertaining nonetheless. He’s also been hitting the website with reviews of some interesting releases – click here for Joe’s Whisky Review.

Membership

We are working hard to update the website and to create our member’s section. Please bear with us during this transitional period and continue to email us with your requirements. If you are interested in becoming a fully paid up member, click here to see all of the fabulous benefits!

Finally if you’ve not already given us a like on Facebook or checked us out on Twitter then seek us out on @TheWhiskyLounge @TWLEddie @TWLAmanda @TWLJoe. This really is the best way to be kept bang up to date with all our latest events and you’ll also be able to enter our whisky related competitions that we’ll be running in the near future. 

So there we have it – I think that’s everything for now hope to see you all for a dram in the near future.

Slainte!

Eddie & The Whisky Lounge Team
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eddie Ludlow
Whisky Evangelist
 
thewhiskylounge
IWSC Spirit Panel Judge 2009-present
http://www.thewhiskylounge.com/
eddie@thewhiskylounge.com
 
 

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