KBF Scholarships Applications Now Available

(Bardstown, KY) — High school seniors whose parents are employed by a distillery that participates in the Kentucky Bourbon Festival can apply for one of two Kentucky Bourbon Festival Scholarships. The scholarships are sponsored by Smith Brothers Trucking, Chuck Smith; Bluegrass Ice, Ronnie Rogers; Toddy’s Liquors, Guthrie McKay; and Woodford Reserve Distillery.

Parents can pick up a 2012 application form at the distillery where they work or from the festival office in Bardstown. The parent must have been employed by the distillery for at least five years.

One $1,500 scholarship and one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded. The scholarships are one-year awards. The winners will be announced at the Bardstown Sampler on April 28. Applications must be postmarked by March 31. Please mail applications to: The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Scholarship, One Court Square, Bardstown, KY 40004.

For more information, call the festival office at 502-348-3623 or 800-638-4877 and select option 4.

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. The bill designating the Bardstown festival as the state’s official bourbon festival established the scholarship.

All Kentucky Bourbon Festival press releases can be downloaded from the press room on our web site, www.kybourbonfestival.com.

IRISH DISTILLERS SWEEPS THE BOARD AT ICONS OF WHISKEY AWARDS 2012

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, makers of the world’s No 1 Irish whiskey, Jameson, has been named Whiskey Distiller of the Year and Whiskey Brand Innovator of the Year at the Icons of Whiskey Awards 2012. Single pot still whiskey Powers John’s Lane Release was also recognised, scooping the prize for Best Pot Still Whiskey within the World Whiskies Awards, at a ceremony held at the Waldorf Hilton in London.

The three awards underline a hugely successful and innovative year for the company, in which it demonstrated its unique distilling capabilities and a vision for the future of the Irish whiskey category. Highlights included the launch of the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton initiative, which introduced Powers John’s Lane Release, Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy and Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength, while Jameson introduced the newest product in the Reserve range, Jameson Select Reserve.

Anna Malmhake, CEO for Irish Distillers, says: “We are delighted with this phenomenal result, especially as the Icons of Whiskey are among the most respected whiskey awards in the world. This is an exciting time for Irish whiskey and to be recognised as Distiller and Brand Innovator of the Year is a true testament to the continued contribution of our skilled and passionate distillery team at Midleton.”

Last night’s accolades follow a spate of recent successes for Irish Distillers including Distillery of the Year at the Whiskey Advocate Awards and the Whiskeys of the World Trophy at the 2011 International Spirits Challenge for Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy. Respected whiskey writer Jim Murray awarded 96.5 points to Powers John’s Lane Release, making it his 2012 Whiskey Bible Irish Whiskey of the Year and the highest ever scoring Irish whiskey in the history of the Bible.

Notes:

Irish Distillers Limited, part of Pernod Ricard Group, distils and distributes a range of famous Irish whiskey, gin and vodka brands internationally, including Jameson, Powers, Paddy, Midleton Very Rare, Redbreast, Cork Dry Gin and Huzzar Vodka.

About The Icons of Whiskey

Now in its 9th year in its current form, the Icons of Whiskey awards celebrate the people and places behind the great whiskies of the world, and are nominated by professionals in the drinks industry. Independent editorial panel of whiskey experts pick winners from the regional heats of Scotland, America and Rest of World before the overall winners are announced.

About Jameson:

Jameson is the world’s No 1 Irish whiskey. Award-winning as a result of its exceptional smoothness following its unique triple distillation process, Jameson is enjoyed in more than 120 countries worldwide.

The core Jameson range includes Jameson; Jameson 12 Year Old Special Reserve; Jameson Gold Reserve; Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve; Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve; and Jameson Signature Reserve (Travel Retail exclusive).

About Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton:

In May 2011, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard announced plans to underline the rich heritage of Irish whiskey with the launch of a new initiative – Single Pot Still whiskeys of Midleton. Aimed at promoting consistent communication on the provenance and quality of single pot still whiskey, the launch heralded an increase in investment in Irish Distillers’ existing portfolio, ahead of a planned roll-out of innovative extensions. Additionally, the initiative marked the adoption by the industry of new terminology for this unique style of whiskey – moving from ‘pure pot still’ to ‘single pot still’.

For further information please visit www.jamesonwhiskey.com

Diamond Jubilee Whisky is ready!

DIAMOND JUBILEE WHISKY

The Diamond Jubilee whisky is now bottled and ready for immediate delivery and collection. We have had a taste and believe this is the best we have ever made and the coolest bottles we have designed yet.

Please click here if you wish to get your hands on one of these.

Alternatively if you are interested in our Royal Wedding whisky, we are literally now on our last few bottles. If you don’t want to miss out then please click here to secure yourself a bottle or two.

Or you may be interested in a Royal Wedding / Jubilee Whisky Gift Pack of which, again, we have a limited stock of. Please click here if you wish to purchase one.
 
SUMMER IS COMING…
 
Summer is approaching, time to get your kids in an English Whisky outfit!

Andrew writes, 

Our Spring Tasting Schedule is now online:  https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php .

We have 28 new tastings to delight and entertain you over the coming months including 4 new Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tastings, a Japanese Single Malt Tasting, an American Whiskey as well as rum and tequila tastings. I’ve lost track of whether this is the 4th or 5th Spring Single Malt Festival, so we’ll just call it our Annual Spring Single Malt Festival. It will feature no less than 100 of the best whiskies in the province, and is limited to as many people; so don’t delay grabbing a ticket or two. The night after the festival, as is tradition, we will be hosting a special tasting, in this case, The Ultimate Dalmore Tasting. The tasting will feature two different Dalmore 40 Year Olds (the old bottling as well as the new Aurora), the 45 Year Old Astrum and three other rare old Dalmore vintages including the 1978 and 1974. It will be a memorable evening, and we might just attract a special guest! I am also especially psyched about our Japanese whisky tasting “Lost in Translation”. This special tasting will feature a flight of 7 Japanese whiskies, 4 of which are exceptionally rare vintage expressions. 

Whatever your taste there is lots to offer. As always the tastings fill on a first serve basis, and you can register in store, by phone 403-283-8000 and online https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php . 

There are also some exciting new whiskies in stock too! Though you will have to wait until the next Full Malt Messenger for more details on them, here is a teaser:

1. Compass Box The Last Vatted Malt – A not so subtle poke in the eye of the SWA (Scotch Whisky Association) who changed the rules classifying whisky types; not to everyone’s advantage… Much more in the Malt Messenger about this exclusive KWM whisky. – 53.7% – A marriage of 35 year old sherried Speyside whisky and 26 year old peated Islay whisky. – $247.99 + GST
2. Glenfiddich 40 Year 2011 – World Whiskies Awards 2012 Double Winner:Best Speyside 21 Years & Over and Best Speyside Whisky – $2729.99 + GST
3. Masterson’s 10 Year Canadian Rye Whisky – Canadian Whisky Awards Whisky of the Year! – $106.99 + GST
4. Auchroisk 20 Year – Official Diageo bottling. – 58.1% – Allegedly a desert whisky with some sherried tones. – $245.99 + GST
5. Glen Spey 21 Year – Official Diageo bottling. – 50.4% – Allegedly a desert whisky with some sherried tones. – $374.99 + GST
6. Jim Beam the Devil’s Cut – Whisky extracted from used oak barrels! The legends are true… – $29.99 + GST

• And that’s a just a taste, the High West Whiskies Are Back Too!

Spring Tasting Schedule Excluding SMWS Tastings

1. Glendronach Vintages Tasting You’ll be tantalized by a lineup of no less than 6 Glendronach single cask vintage bottlings. We will sample 2 different 1972s, including our own exclusive cask. Move over Macallan, Glendronach is the new Sheriff of heavily sherried whisky! Thr Apr 12 – $70
2. Whisky Women & Chocolate Round up the gals and join our scotch expert, Andrew Ferguson, for a pairing of fine whisky and premium chocolate. Lassies only. Fri Apr 20 – $50
3. Bourbon, Rye and Other American Whiskies There is more to American whiskey than Bourbon. We’ll sample straight rye, Tennessee whiskey, American single malt whiskey and other treats! Tue May 8 – $50
4. Rare Malts Only the oldest and rarest whiskies need apply. Taste whiskies which have been matured more than 20 years and are from closed distilleries, or are exceptionally rare. Thr May 31 – $75
5. Lost in TranslationThe Japanese have been making Single Malts and Blends in the Scottish style for nearly a century. We’ve assembled a flight of some very rare Japanese whiskies for this special tasting. Tue June 12 – $60
6. Spring Single Malt Festival Our biannual whisky festival is not the biggest in the city, but it features the most interesting and eclectic lineup of whiskies in Alberta. 100 customers, 80+ whiskies and your own Glencairn glass! Thr Jun 14 – $60
7. The Ultimate Dalmore Tasting The Dalmore is one of the iconic whiskies of the Northern Highlands. We’re featuring seven distillery bottled Dalmores including two different 40 year olds (the old one and the new Aurora) and the 45 year old Astrum. This will be a one of a kind, once in a lifetime, ultimate vertical tasting of The Dalmore. Fri Jun 15 – $250
8. Master Malt This tasting will push your palate to its limits with a lineup of very rare and old whiskies like Macallan 25 Year, Glendronach Grandeur and Glenfarclas 40! Tue Jun 26 – $100

Scotch Malt Whisky Society First Friday Tastings

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the world’s largest whisky club, with more than 26,000 members worldwide and bottling more than 300 casks a year exclusively for its members. Calgary’s Kensington Wine Market is its Canadian embassy selling memberships, bottlings and helping fascilitate tastings. For more information on the Soctch Malt Whisky Society Canada, including the perks of membership, please check out www.smws.ca .

Every month the Society launches 7-8 new whiskies in Canada, holding a tasting on the First Friday of the month to celebrate the release and taste the whiskies. The time and venue of the events will depend on the level of interest in them on a month to month basis. The next four First Friday tastings are as follows: 

1. Scotch Malt Whisky Society First Friday IV – The April First Friday will be held at the Kensington Wine Market, with two sessions, one form 5-6PM and the other from 7-8PM. We are capping April at 48 total registrants unless there is enough demand to fill a third sessions from 3-4PM. – April 6 $35 Member and $45 Guests
2. Scotch Malt Whisky Society First Friday V – Location and time TBD. – May 4 $35 Member and $45 Guests
3. Scotch Malt Whisky Society First Friday VI – Location and time TBD. – June 1 $35 Member and $45 Guests
4. Scotch Malt Whisky Society First Friday VII – Location and time TBD. – July 6 $35 Member and $45 Guests

“The world’s finest and most comprehensive whisky course – with detailed lessons, high-definition footage of over 50 of the world’s leading distilleries, and cutting edge online assessment.

Multiple formats, including DVD, online video and mobile device. Interactive online tastings of your favourite brands. The World Masterclass of Whisky invites you to discover whisky on your terms.”

This is the new trailer for the World Masterclass and there is more news coning soon; please click on the link to veiw the trailer;

http://vimeo.com/38975780

Awards pour in for Amrut Distilleries

Amrut Distilleries, the maker of India’s finest malt whisky, will be picking up the “New World Whisky” title in Chicago today, just hours after it landed the “Whisky Ambassador of the Year” award at the Icons of Whisky in London.

Amrut’s Two Continents malt whisky will be named Whisky Advocate’s “New World Whisky of the Year” at WhiskyFest at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. Two Continents is made from 100% Indian barley grown in Punjab and Rajasthan, then mashed, distilled and aged in Bangalore. It was then transferred to Europe where it was aged in ex-bourbon casks and then bottled. This gives it a “rich, complex, unique, and exciting oral explosion” according to Whisky Advocate.

At Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky, Ashok Chokalingam, Amrut’s General Manager – International Operations, was named “Whisky Ambassador of the Year”. The judges praised the hard work of Ashok and Amrut Director, Rick Jagdale, since launching Amrut Malt in 2004. “The gamble and all the legwork has paid off for Ashok and Rick, with Amrut establishing its credentials as a serious award winning whisky” they said.

Ashok has been on ambassadorial duties this month in the United States. He has been on a four-city tour promoting the award-winning malts which are making Amrut Distilleries one of the most talked-about whisky makers in the world just now. Not only does it have some of the finest malts on the market, but they are also unique in coming from the tropical Indian city of Bangalore. Amrut’s malt whiskies have only had limited availability in the US market until recently, so this is an ideal opportunity for a first-hand encounter with what everyone is about.

In addition Amrut’s latest release is being unveiled at the Chicago WhiskyFest. Kadhambam lives up to its name which means “mixture” in Tamil, having been matured in a variety of containers – sherry butts, brandy casks and rum barrels – for different lengths of time. It captures a range of characteristics from this mix of maturation methods.

Notes

Background links:

Whisky Advocate Award http://www.whiskyadvocateblog.com/?s=amrut

Icons of Whisky http://www.whiskymag.com/awards/icons_of_whisky/2012/

WhiskyFest http://www.maltadvocate.com/whiskyfest_chicago.asp

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Amrut Distilleries

Amrut Single Malt Whisky from India was launched officially in Glasgow in 2004. Since then its reputation has grown, with its range of innovative whiskies using Indian barley from the Punjab, distilled in the tropical garden city of Bangalore at 3,000ft above sea level. Amrut Distilleries has won many awards.

Last year, Amrut Fusion was named Grand Master of World Whisky at The Spirits Business Awards in London in December. Already named one of seven Masters of World Whisky by the judging panel of the prestigious event, Amrut Fusion came out as the “best of the best” in the final stage of the competition.

Amrut Distilleries was named a Distiller of the Year in the Icons of Whisky 2011 and was crowned in the Rest of the World category by the independent judges of the prestigious awards, which are organized by Whisky Magazine. The award was made to Amrut “for raising the profile of Indian whisky across the globe and its innovations in the production process”. The Rest of the World title meant the Bangalore distillery was also one of the four contenders for the Icons of Whisky Distiller of the Year title.

In February 2011, Fusion was named World Whisky of the Year at the Malt Advocate Whisky Awards. In a new category created to recognize “the wonderful whiskies” being produced in countries like Japan, India, Sweden, England, outside the major distilling nations, John Hansell, editor of Malt Advocate magazine, explained the choice of winner. “India’s Amrut distillery changed the way many think of Indian whisky. … Amrut is making whisky, and it’s very good.”

In The Whisky Bible 2010, leading whisky expert, Jim Murray awarded Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky the title of World’s Third Best Whisky. Murray said Fusion “has to be one of the great whiskies found anywhere in the world this year”. Admitting his No 3 choice could come as a surprise to some people, he said: “The fact that it is Indian? Irrelevant, from distillation to maturation this is a genius whisky from whichever continent.”

Fusion was named the Best Natural Cask Whisky in the Daily Drams Category at the Malt Maniacs Awards 2009. It picked up the award for the best whisky matured exclusively in “untreated”, regular cask(s) in the category for whiskies with an average street price of up to 50 euros. It was also awarded a silver medal. In 2011, Malt Maniacs awarded Amrut Portonova the title of Best Cask Innovation Award (Premium).

One of the Amrut Single Malt Whisky bottlings by Blackadder International won “The Best Daily Dram” category of Malt Maniacs 2008 Awards. All the Amrut brands entered into the same competition won silver and bronze medals.

Amrut Peated Malt Cask Strength Whisky won Silver and Amrut Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky Bronze at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2008.

Amrut is now sold widely in Europe (UK, Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Spain), Canada, South Africa, Australia and the United States.

Purple Valley Imports is the importer of Amrut in the USA. http://purplevalley.tv/

Isle of Arran 1999 NAS Golden Eagle (46%, OB, 6,000 Bts., 2012)

The fourth and final bottling of the Icons of Arran (Peacock 1996, Rowan Tree 1997, Westie 1998 and Golden Eagle 1999) limited to 6,000 bottles. The Golden Eagle is made from 14 ex-bourbon barrels and 7 ex-sherry hogsheads, bottled at 46% without chill-filtration and added colouring. A new series commences this year with the Devil’s Punch Bowl; details to follow. On the nose there is tinned pears and fruit cocktail, lychee, rich raisins, warmed apricots on ‘top’ and ‘below’ there is a good back bone of notes from the oak; leather and tobacco (unlit). There are also lighter notes in the form of grapefruit and lemon zest with the addition of the much appreciated malty notes which are characteristic of Arran whiskies. All contributing to a solid and rich collection of aromas. The taste is bigger than the nose would lead you to believe and it’s slightly more sweet and sour along with the malt (at first) and then some of the leather and tobacco present themselves along with some really good lychee and grapefruit zest. Very active, complex, vibrant and very good. The finish is malty, warming and fills the head and then some really good sweetness in the form of the fruit and leather/tobacco team quickly followed by a good chocolate moment. After a few minutes the malt (now dusty) & the rich raisin take over as a grand finale.

A fitting finale to the series; buy yours before they are all gone.

£37

Score 90 points

Chieftain’s Aberfeldy 1998 13 yr

92 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06067-7

Nose: Sweet Malt, Piney (White Pine)
Body: Firm and oily, medium length
Palate: Full and Spicy, Cloves, Salt Water Taffy
Finish: Spicy, Smooth, and Light
RRP $79.99/btl

Chieftain’s Balmenach 1983 28 yr Cask Strength / Black Rigid Box

100.6 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06076-9

Nose: Dry Hay, Fresh Heather, Cold Tea
Body: Medium, Creamy
Palate: Honey, Anise, Buttery Spices
Finish: Sweet herbs, White Pepper, Long
RRP $189.99/btl

Chieftain’s Bunnahabhain Peated 1997 14 yr

92 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06073-8

Nose: Tar oil, salt sea air, campfire
Body: Firm and oily, Mouth coating
Palate: Sweet concentrated malt, Smokey short cake, Integrated Smoke and peat
Finish: Well balanced and Soothing, Trace of White Pepper
RRP $89.99/btl

Chieftain’s Caol Ila 1997 14 yr St. Etienne Rum Finish

92 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06074-5

Nose: Light smoke, camphor, coconut
Body: Viscous, Heavy and Oily
Palate: Banana Oil, Sweet Malt, Light Juniper
Finish: Firm moving to Dry, Sweet and smoky
RRP $99.99/btl

Chieftain’s Clynelish 1997 14 yr

92 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06069-1

 
Nose: Heather, Juicy Oak, Light Camphor
Body: Assertive, Smooth oiliness
Palate: Sweet Heather, Citron-Fruity Flavors, Big Malt Base
Finish: White pepper, Long and Lingering
RRP $79.99/btl

Chieftain’s Glenburgie 1998 13 yr Chateau Palmer Finish

92 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06077-6

Nose: Peaches, Almonds, Mint, Brown Sugar
Body: Oily and Mouth Filling
Palate: Big malt profile, Sweet herbs, Licorice, Nutmeg
Finish: Dry and Spicy, Lone and sweet
RRP $94.99/btl

Chieftain’s Glenturet 1990 21 yr Cask Strength / Black Rigid Box

111.6 proof, 6/750 ml  UPC 8-92032-06070-7

Nose: Flowery, light peat, soft oak
Body: Medium, Light oilyness
Palate: Soft malt, Raisins, Great Malt Balance
Finish: Soft, Smooth, Very Long Finish
RRP $139.99/btl

Chieftain’s Isle of Jura 1996 15 yr Bourbon Barrel

92 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06071-4

 Nose: Pears, Sweet Malt, Citrus
Body: Rich and viscous, Oily
Palate: Light smoke, Orange Peel, Scottish Short Bread
Finish: Light Sea Air, Dry White Pepper
RRP $84.99/btl

Chieftain’s Laphroaig 1997 14 yr 

92 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06075-2

Nose: Medicinal, sea-weedy, oaky, sulphur
Body: Medium moving to light oilyness
Palate: Beginning sweet and grassy, Moving to big hit of Peat and smoke
Finish: Dry, Long, and Warming
RRP $84.99/btl

Chieftain’s Mortlach 1995 16 yr Sherry Butt / Cask Strength / Black Rigid Box

108.4 proof, 6/750 ml UPC 8-92032-06078-3

Nose: Juicy Oak, Stewed Prunes, Old Leather
Body: Medium moving to oily and waxy
Palate: Sugar Plums, Sweet Malty Spices, Sugared Almonds
Finish: Sweet Malt that is soft and long
RRP $114.99/btl

www.ralfy.com wishes to make an announcement! – Craigellachie 14yo, is ready for viewing for your maltabloid infotainment.