The Malt Maniacs have published their 2012 Whisky Awards;

The Malt Maniacs Awards 2012

www.ralfy.com is happy to reveal the concluding Vlog relating to the Springbank/ralfy Partnership bottle Auction for the Campbeltown Primary childrens’ Allotment food project !

2012 Springbank & ralfy charity bottle auction has raised

GlenDronach 1993 Single Cask #26 UK Exclusive

19 Year Old single Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butt released exclusively for the United Kingdom market. 614 numbered bottles. Bottled at natural strength 57.1% ABV

Buy – $94.40

The Medal winners of the “All time” 2012, Whisky Design Awards are…

The final votes for the 2012 & “All time” and first ever (but already copied) World Wide Whisky Design Awards have now been counted and were announced today. From a total of 114 nominees in the 4 categories, 10 in … Continue reading →

BALLANTINE’S CHRISTMAS RESERVE IN DEMAND AHEAD OF FESTIVE SEASON

Ballantine’s, the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe, is rolling out Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve Limited Edition to more markets than ever before this year, due to increased demand from markets looking to capitalize on the lucrative festive season.

The third edition of Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve will now be available in fifteen markets – including France, Germany, Poland and China – following the success of the limited edition seasonal expression since 2010.

To support this year’s release, the brand is launching a new Facebook app that invites users to virtually ‘pass the parcel’ to their friends, with a chance of winning a bottle of Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve. To further engage consumers with the festive blend, the app provides seasonal recipes made with Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve, including mince pies and Clementine Bauble cocktails.

Peter Moore, International Brand Director for Ballantine’s, comments: “The festive period is notoriously competitive for retailers, so we’re delighted to be offering Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve to more of our customers around the world this year. This special edition provides consumers seeking the ideal festive gift with exceptional quality and excellent value.”

He continues, “Our customers rightly expect fresh thinking from Ballantine’s so we hope our new Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve Facebook app will be well received and will help spread some festive spirit this Christmas.”

Available from October to December 2012, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is presented in a superior white presentation box, decorated with snowflakes and elements of gold foil. The design adds a premium festive feel and ensures maximum shelf stand-out for Ballantine’s during the busy sales period.

With its luxury seasonal aromas including cinnamon, orange, raisin, candy apple and pear, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is ideal served on its own over ice or as the base for seasonal cocktails.

To access the Facebook app, consumers are asked to visit: Ballantines facebook 

 Notes:

*The facebook app is available to consumer in the UK, Poland, Bulgaria and Germany

About Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve
Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is available in Switzerland, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Vietnam, Poland, Denmark, Bulgaria, China, Thailand, Germany, Slovenia, Taiwan, Croatia and Hong Kong.

On the nose, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is rich, deep and fruity with hints of moist raisin fruitcake and sweet candy apples perfectly balanced out by caramel toffees and soft ripe pears. It tastes sweet with succulent tangy orange and a superb liquorice root and ginger flavour. The finish is very long, round and sweet.

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No 1 ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific and the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe, selling more than 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 80 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com

Last date for Christmas orders
Wednesday 19th December 2012

In the spirit of things, The Penderyn website has been given a touch of Christmas sparkle. We decided it was time for a refresh. The site is now primarily white, crisp and more striking than ever. As a user, you should find it easier to navigate with dropdowns and cross linking throughout. We hope you enjoy browsing the site as much as we have enjoyed working on it.

Visit the Site

An Evening with The Macallan with Brand Ambassador Charlie Whitfield
Three-Course Dinner by Chef Daniel Bruce
Boston Harbor Hotel, Tuesday December 11
Reception 6:30
Dinner 7:00
For Reservations please contact us and pay us only
via email at order@federalwine.com

with the rare opportunity limited to the first 40 people to respond

What an evening we have planned this December! Before you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, take a little time to enjoy some great single malts from that most prestigious of distilleries, The Macallan.
Chef Daniel Bruce has artfully crafted food pairings to go with the Macallans we’ll present in the opening reception and the subsequent three-course dinner. Mr. Whitfield will lead us through Macallan’s two lines: the Fine Oak Range featuring the 10- and 15– year olds; and their classic, sherry matured line featuring the 12- and 18- year olds. The evening will be capped by a taste of their exalted 25 year old.

We will have an engraver at the dinner, who will at no extra charge, hand engrave a message of up to five words on the bottle of your choice. These bottles are a great way to commemorate the occasion and also make superlative and personal gifts.

Hand engraving is a painstaking task. and the number of bottles that can be engraved is limited. We strongly suggest that you order the bottle(s) you want and send us their inscription(s) when you reserve.

The bottles:

Macallan 10 Year $49.99

Macallan 12 Year $62.99

Macallan 15 Year $96.99

Macallan 18 Year $179.99

Macallan 25 Year $824.99

Menu

Reception
Maple Smoked Salmon and Melted Leek Custards
Scotch and Mushroom Soup
Flash Fried Nantucket Scallops Celery Root Mayo
Char Grilled Smoked †Baby Lamb Chops
Macallan 10 Year
†
Slow Roasted Duck Breast
Scotch Soaked Dried Fruit and Wild Rice
Macallan 12 Year
†
Cocoa and Orange Peel Rubbed Grilled Kobe Hanger Steak
Caramelized Onions, Golden Potatoes, Black Kale and Glazed Carrots
†Macallan 15 Year
†
Warm Cinnamon and Vanilla Bread Pudding
Ginger Ice Cream and Scotch Hard Sauce
Macallan 18 Year

Macallan 25 Year

$104.99 per person includes dinner, tax, and service
Reserve at order@federalwine.com only
Payment for both dinner and bottles will be To Federal
Please pass this on to any friends who are whisky enthusiasts!

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits
_________________________________
Email: info@federalwine.com
Phone: (617) 367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

As Christmas approaches and schedules get busy, we decided to host a casual First Friday event in-store, where you can drop by at your convenience! Get a ticket online in advance or in-store to taste the December Outturn of fabulous single cask, cask strength whiskies from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society!! As a gift from SMWS, this event has been highly subsidized keeping the event price low. We hope you can take advantage of this and join us!

Advanced Memberships are now available in-store or through this event registration process so you can pay the Members rate right away! Joining will also allow you to take advantage of your membership to purchase any remaining bottles from past Outturn releases of The Society’s whiskies that are exclusively available to members before they are gone forever!

Click on the link below to register online to attend, or if you prefer, visit Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales to register in-store!

Get more information

Register Now!

Introducing three NEW and exceptional single malt Scotch whiskies from Auchentoshan, Bowmore and Glen Garioch.  All bottled at cask strength, all limited editions, all launching in the next few months as noted below, some in time for the holidays (in case you’re looking for a special gift or working on a gift guide).

Auchentoshan Valinch 2012 Limited Edition Vintage – Launch date: November 2012
Often referred to as the cellar master’s best friend, a ‘valinch’ is a tube that is extended into the cask to get samples for tasting to determine if the whisky is ready for bottling. An apt name for this malt since the spirit is cask-strength. This is the 2nd bottling of this limited edition. As Scotland’s only triple-distilled malt, Auchentoshan is incredibly velvety and smooth yet Valinch has a distinct kick due to its cask strength.

SRP: $59.99 (750ml; 57.2% ABV); 1,300 bottles for U.S.

Glen Garioch 1986 Vintage – Launch date: November 2012
A new introduction from this small Highland distillery, Glen Garioch 1986 is very limited with 3,000 bottles available for the entire world. It is the fifth expression in Glen Garioch’s Vintage range to date – 1978, 1990, 1991 and 1994. It’s a liquid gem from a Highland distillery, a perfect dram for the whisky connoisseur.

SRP: $249.99 (750ml; 54.6%), 250 bottles for U.S.

Bowmore Dorus Mor Small Batch Release – Launch date: January 2013
This cask-strength, 10 Years Old Bowmore can be found throughout the world by a more ‘tempestous’ name that can’t be used in the U.S., so only here it’s known as Dorus Mor, a name chosen by the brand’s Facebook fans. A heady and strong whisky from the magical island of Islay, Bowmore Dorus Mor tastes of the very sea itself, bursting with the soul of the untamed Scottish weather and shows Bowmore’s trademark peat smokiness. This formidable tour de force is worthy of its strong name.

SRP $ $119.99 (750ml; 55.1% ABV); 2,400 bottles for U.S.

Winter Outturn – Holiday Parcel Offerings  

Mouth-wateringly sharp and sweet 

Cask No. 9.62                                      $85

Speyside, Spey

The nose started out really fresh – laundry flapping on the line, lemon, pineapple, strawberry and polished wood, but changed to caramel, toffee and cinnamon; then later, to leather and musk. The palate was spicy, oaky and astringent – suggesting chilli heat or spicy boiled sweets (aniseed balls, clove balls). The reduced nose offered soft spice, butterscotch, some wood shavings and plasticine (‘a carpenter’s workshop’) with lemon spikiness. The reduced palate became mouth-wateringly sharp and sweet (like Moffat toffees) but also had little flickering flames of gentle drying spice – Fisherman’s Friends, cinnamon. The distillery has a secret dram safe in the gardens.

Drinking tip: A good digestif

Colour: Yellow gold                                         Date distilled: August 2002

Cask: First-fill barrel                                          Alcohol: 62.1%

Age: 8 years                                                    USA allocation: 149 Bottles 

Not for wee boys 

Cask No. 29.104                                               $140

Islay

A big nose with lots going on. Carbolic soap, sticking plasters, treacle, hot smoked salmon, burnt heather and liquorice root added to the anticipation. Then a youthful woody spiciness together with jerk chicken sauce (rosemary, thyme, cloves, honey). The palate was massive with concentrated flavours and bitter woodiness. Water brought out prunes, raisins, lemon juice and old camp fires. A musky aroma accompanied some lighter floral notes. A brief hint of struck matches to taste gave way to tannins, burnt heather, liquorice sticks and lots of sweetness. It benefited from some water to calm it down. Of the three Kildalton distilleries, this is the one closest to Port Ellen.

Drinking tip: When you aren’t planning on sampling another whisky that evening

Colour: Pale straw                                           Date distilled: October 1990

Cask: Refill Sherry butt                                     Alcohol: 58.2%

Age: 20 years                                                  USA allocation: 120 Bottles

Glazed cashews and lemon lollies 

Cask No. 27.97                                                $110

Campbeltown

Stunning for its age! Creamy fudge, condensed milk, Golden Syrup on hot buttered toast; Caramac toffee/chocolate; ‘Dolcé de Leché’ (Argentinian pastries). A very sweet taste, then mouth drying, with a thread of smoke in the finish; caramelised cashew nuts and fresh kindling wood. A drop of water musters crushed rosemary, beurre noir, ‘lemon lollies in warm sand’, sea-salt and a trace of struck matches; the taste smooth and viscous, with a light sweetness balanced by dry tannins; allspice, leather and tobacco in the finish. A classic old-fashioned example of the make from Campbeltown’s leading distillery.

Drinking tip: In a beach hut

Colour: Deep amber; cream sherry                            Date distilled: May 1998

Cask: Refill gorda                                                        Alcohol: 57.6%

Age: 13 years                                                  USA allocation: 180 Bottles 

Straightforward, sweet and spicy 

Cask No. 42.10                                                $85

Highland, Island

Yes it was young – but perfectly enjoyable – we nosed dried grass, flowers, herbs, creosote and soft tar (perhaps in a farmyard context?); also lemon sponge, vanilla, pepper and chocolate Easter eggs in boxes. The unreduced palate was pretty straightforward, sweet and spicy; specifically milk chocolate and white pepper, along with grass and paper. The reduced nose offered green grapes, melted vanilla ice-cream, some salt and a ‘scorched boiler-suit’. That simple balance (don’t look for much complexity) also inhabited the reduced palate – plum jam, syrup, MDF furniture, ‘licking a TV screen’ and some spicy warmth to finish. From Mull’s only distillery.

Drinking tip: When you need a ‘quickie’

Colour: Pale wood sap                                                Date distilled: March 2005

Cask: Refill barrel                                                         Alcohol: 62.7%

Age: 7 years                                                                USA allocation: 60 Bottles

A vaudeville act

Cask No. G2.2                                     $250

Grain

Once the largest grain whisky distillery in Scotland, it was closed and dismantled in 1983. Its make was never bottled by its owner and is very rare in indie bottlings. Jaunty for its age: ‘red patent-leather dancing pumps’ came to mind. A school art-room, with poster paint, Gloy glue, ink, vinyl and coated card – all behind vanilla fudge. Sweet and oaky to taste, with vanilla, coconut and light liquorice. With water it became a newly crafted coffin, wax-polished and resinous. A light texture and a short finish, with a hint of Murraymints and strong, lorry-drivers, tea, and condensed milk.

Drinking tip: While watching a school tap-dancing class

Colour: Bright gold                                          Date distilled: November 1976

Cask: Refill barrel                                             Alcohol: 53.6%

Age: 35 years                                                  USA allocation: 60 Bottles

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/ for further information on their single cask bottlings.