Whisky Live London 2012 – The Report

There was a strong TWE presence this year at London’s Whisky Live show, held in the formidable surroundings of the Honorable Artillery Company just a stone’s throw from Shoreditch High Street, home to the majority of the city’s most tragic tryhards … Continue reading >>

THIRD RELEASE FOR BALBLAIR 1989 VINTAGE

International Beverage Holdings is delighted to unveil the third release of the 1989 Vintage of Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

As with the 2001 Vintage, launched to great acclaim in November 2011, this expression is non-chill-filtered, naturally coloured and bottled at 46%. Coupled with traditional production methods, this policy results in a single malt of rare quality.

The third release of Balblair 1989 is amber in appearance with rose gold highlights. This full-bodied malt has distinctive aromas of bananas, apples, raisins and lemons. Maturation in American oak ex-bourbon barrels adds notes of warm toffee and vanilla. There is an abundance of fruit and a rich spiciness on the palate, leading to a complex yet notably smooth finish.

Distillery Manager John MacDonald observes of his latest selection: “The now extinct second release of the 1989 Vintage was many people’s favourite Balblair. I believe this variant – at a higher strength, uncoloured and non-chill-filtered – is even better.”

According to Andy Hannah, Brand Manager: “Balblair has become established as a favourite of discerning whisky drinkers worldwide. As well as being the only distillery solely releasing vintage malts, the contemporary packaging design sets it apart. This has been further updated with the third release of the Balblair 1989 Vintage, the first to appear in a new, higher-quality box (which will become the standard for new bottlings); at 15mm
narrower than before, it is smaller and greener.”

Balblair 1989 has been a very popular vintage and this will be its final release. It will be on general sale but the focus will be on three key markets: the UK, France and Russia.

Balblair 1989 is available at £60.00.

Spring arrivals at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop.

Spring has sprung.

However, if you had a winter like we did here in the northeast you’d feel like we went from Fall right to Spring.

With respect to mother nature, this isn’t why we’re emailing you today. Instead of the strange weather – we’d like to tell you about some great new bottles that have made their way into our store. There’s something here for everyone.

So kick back, soak in your Spring fever and take a look.

Cheers!

Jon & Eric
Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
info@parkaveliquor.com
http://www.parkaveliquor.com/

Whisky Live New York returns to the spectacular Pier Sixty on April 11, 2012 creating a magnificent evening of great whisky, fine food and wonderful entertainment in the heart of New York. Our 2011 show was our most successful edition attracting great whiskies and a fine crowd of whisky lovers and of course newcomers to a fantastic evening. Whether, the seasoned whisky lover or novice you can expect to experience an incredible and in-depth insight into the world of whisky drinking and producing. This is your chance to become closer to the industry, taste rare and sought-after whiskies, increase your knowledge and meet the whisky experts!

Special promo code for Park Avenue Liquor Shop customers:

Use the code parkaveliquor (case sensitive) to receive 10% off your ticket purchase.

Redbreast: Cask Strength

Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in copper pot stills. This latest release from Redbreast displays the characteristic full and complex flavor of pot still whiskey. Matured in Sherry casks, the legendary Redbreast style is a sheer joy.
The very special cask-strength expression gives a rare glimpse of Redbreast 12 in its natural, full flavored state.

Aroma: A fruit explosion. Figs, dates, ripe banana, sultanas, red apple and lime abound. Pot still spices combine with the sweet vanilla and pine from the casks.
Taste: Deep, dried fruit, a touch of citrus with aromatic oils and spices. Vanilla sweetness leads to toasted oak and barley.
Finish: Exceedingly long, rich complexity of spices and fruit, slowly fading through to sweet butterscotch and barley.

Our Price: $68

Glenrothes: 1988

Vintages from the 1970’s and 1980’s are increasingly hard to come by. The Glenrothes 1988 is of that rare breed. This never before bottled the vintage has benefited from more than two decades maturing in a combination of Spanish and American oak; previously seasoned with both sherry and whisky. The combination gives the citrus notes a delicious cooked orange flavor and plenty of fruit as well which are evident on the nose and the palate.

Appearance:

Copper gold, clear and bright

Bouquet: Rich, spicy: ripe, dark, berry fruits

Palate: Rich, full flavor: candied orange peel, fruit compote

Finish: Very long, medium sweet

Our Price: $155

Labrot & Graham Woodford Reserve:

Doubled Oaked

As Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris said, “How do you make the best bourbon even better? you double the wood exposure.” This brings us to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. After 15 years, Woodford has added a new name to their line and it does not disappoint.

Double Oaked takes fully matured Woodford and then ages it in a second barrel for 6 to 12 months in a heavily toasted barrel. This approach creates a rich and colorful flavor with a nice amount of soft, sweet oak character.

Our Price: $57

On June 14th from 3-6pm at Park Avenue Liquor Shop, Woodford Reserve will engrave any purchased bottles of Woodford Reserve and Woodford Reserve Double Oak.

Please note that due to ever-changing inventory, we cannot guarantee bottle availability. Customers making online orders that cannot be fulfilled for any reason will be notified. Park Avenue Liquor Shop is not responsible any typographical errors. Please contact us with any questions you might have.

Lochside 44yo 1967/2011 (41.5%, Coopers Choice, Butt, C#807, 354 Bts.,)

Lochside is suddenly the new must have single malt (along with Caperdonich) and long closed which only adds to the attraction. A must on any enthusiasts malt mileage. On the nose there is some really very lovely fruity vanilla quickly followed by some dusty malt and light clove (think way back to a dentist’s office but without all the wretched needles and drills; just the distinctive aromas). After some time in the glass some very good sherry notes emerge followed by tinned fruit. The fruit emerges in quite an assertive manner if you have time to wait. The taste is not massive at first but then the flavour (which is delightful) starts to grow and some excellent malt arrives along with a little, little dark unsweetened chocolate as well as the slight dark chocolate bitterness. The tinned fruit also is also present and the hints of clove (and without all the other baggage). Again all very good and very more –ish. The finish shows some black pepper and sweet malt (maybe some sweet green snap peas) and some really, really good malt. Hints of the chocolate and a little oakey dryness but nothing over whelming.

Don’t rush it, give it some time in the glass, its well worth it.

$236 in some markets.

Score 91 points

Bruichladdich 10 year old “The Laddie” Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($52.99) Finally, ten long years after re-opening the distillery, Bruichladdich has reached the finish line – a ten year old malt composed entirely of whisky made after the resurrection. The wait has been worth it. Many of us at K&L feel that Bruichladdich’s post-2001 whiskies are some of the best distillates in the world – they’ve always just been a bit too immature. The quality of the spirit coming off their pot stills is simply jaw-dropping (their Botanist gin is also delicious), and we’ve been excited to see what it can do after a decade in the barrel. That time is finally here. Recently voted “Best Islay Whisky of 2011” by the Whisky Advocate, the Bruichladdich 10 has finally reached the American west coast where at last we can revel in its glory. The malt is ultra smooth, creamy with citrus notes, stone fruits, and the trademark saltiness that makes it an Islay whisky through and through. The price is also right. For a small independently-owned distillery, the boys at Bruichladdich have struggled at times, but they’ve always landed on their feet. The 10 year is one of the most anticipated whiskies of all time and for about $50, it’s one of the best single malt deals we’ll see this year. For those lamenting the rising cost of good whisky, make sure you take home the Laddie 10 and savor each drop. This is true handcrafted whisky. -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

1990 Clynelish 21 Year Old Chieftain’s K&L Selection Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($129.99) While many single malts are blends of different types of barrels, some are known to be more sherried than others. Macallan for example is widely enjoyed for its Oloroso sherry character, while something like Ardbeg is decidedly less rich. That being said, it’s not that Ardbeg doesn’t use sherry-aged whisky in its single malt, it’s just that there are far fewer barrels in their recipe. Clynelish, perhaps the most respected single malt in the world by whisky insiders, is a whisky renowned for its light, fruity, Highland character. However, what would happen if one of the few sherry-aged Clynelish barrels were isolated from the recipe and bottled as a single cask selection? The answer is here at K&L. An absolutely stellar, 21 year old sherry cask of Clynelish was sitting right next to our Brora cask at the Chieftain’s warehouse so we pulled the trigger. The heather now mingles with raisined fruit, the citrus fruit now turns candied, the wax turns into dripping oil. The complexity of this whisky is simply astounding and collectors everywhere should rejoice at the price. Clynelish is easily on my top five distillery short list and this is one of the best and most unique I’ve tasted. A single cask of this quality from Clynelish at full proof should easily retail for $150 or more. Grab this one while it lasts. – David Driscoll

Glenglassaugh 26 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($269.99)

Ireland

Wild Geese Irish Soldiers & Heroes Limited Edition Irish Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($65.99)

Wild Geese Irish Soldiers & Heroes Rare Irish Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($47.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection “Oat” Bourbon Whiskey 375ml – 6 available ($69.99)

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection “Rice” Bourbon Whiskey 375ml – 6 available ($69.99)

BACK IN STOCK… (items we’ve carried in the past that have just arrived again)

Bourbon and Rye

Old Overholt Rye Whiskey 1Liter – 12 available ($19.99)

Single Malt Scotch

Dalmore 12 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $50) – 10 available ($29.99)

Dalmore 15 year old Single Malt 750ml (Elsewhere $96) ($55.99)

Dalmore Grand Reserve Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $75) ($49.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey 750ml – 11 available ($47.99)

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

Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six

2nd Saturday each month 6 – 9 p.m. no reservation required

Enjoy 5 half-ounce samples of single malt Scotch whisky: $20

♦ We feature 3 single malts, including a Malt of the Month *

♦ You roll a die then pick a whisky from one of the six Scotch regions

♦ You pick your Connoisseur’s Choice from our menu of single malt menu 

Peruse our whisky library. Learn about our single malts in our menu book: distillery info, tasting notes, & more. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres. Non-whisky drinkers welcome.

2012 Features:

10% off bottles of the Malt of the Month * 

April 14 

Tullibardine Aged Oak *
Bruichladdich Laddie Ten
Highland Park 12 yo 

May 12 

Balblair 1997 *
Edradour 10 yo
Glenkinchie 12 yo 

June 9 

Kilkerran Work in Progress 3 (2011) *
Isle of Jura 16 yo
Deanston Virgin Oak 

Price goes to $25 July 14 

Balvenie Signature 12 yo Batch 4 *
Glenrothes Alba Reserve
Tullibardine 1993 

August 11 

Glengoyne 10 yo *
Ledaig 10 yo 46.3%
Tomatin 18 yo 

September 8 

Glen Grant 10 yo *
Bruichladdich Links –St. Andrews
Edradour 2003 Port Cask

Bob at work….

Visit the Miner’s Delight Inn at http://www.minersdelightinn.com/

World Whisky Awards 2012 – Nikka Taketsuru 17 yrs World’s Best Blended Malt

For the fourth consecutive year, Nikka Taketsuru is awarded the title of world’s best blended malt at the World Whiskies Awards.

For the first time, the 17 year old bottling will play the role of ambassador for Japanese pure malts, succeeding the emblematic 21 year old, winner of the prize in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The Taketsuru range of whiskies, which include a 12 year, a 17 year and a 21 year, is the fruit of Mr. Hisamitsu’s work as chief Nikka whisky blender. By selecting malts from Nikka’s two distilleries, Yoichi and Miyagikyo, he aims to achieve a subtle harmony between these very unique single malts.

This 5th award is proof of his success!

Also of note are the Nikka From the Barrel, winning best Japanese blended whisky without age statement every year since 2007, as well as the Miyagikyo single malts, whose Non Age and 12 year bottlings received prizes in their respective categories.

Awarded World’s Best Blended Malt!

Nikka whisky chief blender TETSUJI HISAMITSU accepted the prize in London on March 22nd, 2012. He says he is proud of the Taketsuru blend quality, and hopes that this recognition will allow even more whisky enthusiasts to discover the range through the 17 year bottling, with its very accessible price.

THE BENRIACH DISTILLERY COMPANY GAINS ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFICATION

THE BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd, owners of the BenRiach and GlenDronach award-winning single malt whisky brands, is proud to announce that it has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification.

ISO 9001:2000 is an internationally-recognised Quality Management System Standard which requires certified companies to implement and follow a comprehensive Quality Management System that addresses all areas of the company’s operations.

The certification was awarded after an extensive audit of Quality Management Systems covering all aspects of BenRiach’s manufacturing, support and business operations.

“We are extremely proud to achieve such a highly-respected international standard. ISO 9001:2000 illustrates our commitment to professionalism, best practice and continuous improvement throughout the entire business,” said Managing Director Billy Walker.

“We always strive to improve the quality of our whiskies and our ultimate goal is to increase our customers’ satisfaction in every aspect of our business. This certification reassures them of our dedication to delivering quality and striving for the highest standard in our practices.”

And he added: “The need for internationally-recognised standards is important for global organisations such as BenRiach. The ISO 9001 certification is highly regarded and will reinforce our standing in the marketplace.”

Whiskybroker.co.uk Update  April 2012

Keeping Busy

In case anybody is wondering life is like when you work with whisky full-time, perhaps this might interest you…

In the past 3 months, Jane and I have bottled 33 casks, or approximately 8000 bottles. On top of this, we have regauged every cask which has come into and out of my Excise Warehouse, which means emptying, weighing and refilling each one to find out how much is in each.

Bowmore wine finish ready for bottling

The rest of our time has seen the two of us labelling, packaging and posting bottles from the online shop, completing VAT returns, Customs & Excise Warehouse Returns and I’ve been busy stowing and removing casks in the warehouses at Bladnoch.

More difficult than you might think…

I mentioned above filling in the HMRC warehouse returns. This basically involved letting HMRC know how much you have in your warehouse “Duty Free” at the end of each month, as well as what has come in and out during that month. Where this is difficult with whisky is that whisky evaporates (or leaks) from the cask. This means that each warehouse return must account for losses. For example in February I moved a Macduff Sherry Butt into my warehouse. Say 200 litres of pure alcohol (about 480 litres) were moved in. I then split the butt into 7 or 8 x 60 litre containers. To do this, I must inform HMRC that the cask has been removed and containers brought in. Then when a customer buys the container and I bottle it, I must “check out” the container and “check in” the bottles. Then I need to check out the bottles whenever they are shipped out. You end up with about 15 entries for the one cask!

Casks Available Now

Please don’t hesitate to send me an email if you have any questions that I might be able to help with.

Many thnaks for reading!

Martin Armstrong

www.whiskybroker.co.uk

info@whiskybroker.co.uk

***Edinburgh’s Scotch Whisky Experience unveils new £1 million shop***

Edinburgh based five star visitor attraction, Scotch Whisky Experience, has opened the doors to its innovative new whisky shop, following a £1million refurbishment.

The new facility is forecast to increase the attraction’s retail revenue by 15% in 2012, adding to the 55% growth in this area over the last three years.

The new shop is the latest stage in the five star attraction’s multi million pound overhaul and marks the most significant development since the unveiling of the Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection – the largest of its kind – in 2009.

Susan Morrison, Director and General Manager of the Scotch Whisky Experience, is determined to blow away the myths and stereotypes surrounding whisky and make it easier for people to find their ideal dram.

She said: “Recognising the importance of retail to our business, we have invested in our shop to create an interactive, customer-friendly environment with a quality of experience which leaves a lasting impression.

“With many of our visitors coming from abroad, our shop plays an important role in promoting whisky and educating people about the industry following the experience of the tour. We find our visitors respond well to the use of flavours in choosing their whisky, encouraging diversity in choice as well as using the traditional methods of geography or well loved brands.”

She continued: “We have aligned the shop with our tour, which already introduces people to whisky using flavours and scents, while simplifying and explaining the drink. The new development has made our shop both more accessible and welcoming, with the design and creative touches such as using recycled wood from cask ends for our counter tops, giving visitors a modern and lively environment. “

Key features of the new shop include an interactive flavour map and touch-screen distillery guide, which will enable customers to discover new options at the tap of a button, based on brands or flavours with which they are already familiar. The flavour map has been created with the help of the Scotch Whisky Research Institute and involved a comprehensive evaluation of Scotland’s single malts to plot their individual characteristics.

Whisky connoisseurs will also be able to enjoy a new VIP area in which to browse the premium collection on a tailor made iPad application.

New touch screens can be accessed in 20 individual languages including Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Russian and Brazilian – reflecting the importance of emerging markets for the Scotch whisky industry.

Scotch whisky exports are now worth over £4.5 billion annually, and while the USA continues to dominate in terms of overall spend, demand from Asian and South American markets is increasing rapidly. In line with these trends, 80% of visitors to the Scotch Whisky Experience in 2011 were from overseas, with significant growth in the number of visitors from China and Brazil.

The Scotch Whisky Experience is open daily, from 10am until 6pm. For further information contact 0131 220 0441 or visit www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk.