EPIC POEM INSPIRES DRAM-ATIC CUTTY SARK LIMITED EDITION BOTTLING

Cutty Sark, the pioneering Scotch whisky brand, has launched a new limited edition blend this month exploring the origins of the whisky’s unique name, which was originally inspired by the famous clipper now resting in Greenwich, London.

Cutty Sark Tam o’Shanter Blended Scotch Whisky (ABV 46.5%) is the first expression created by Cutty Sark Master Blender Kirsteen Campbell, and is a development of the acclaimed Cutty Sark 25 year old (Gold – Best in Class, International Wine and Spirit Competition 2011) with a distinctly darker, wilder side perfectly reflecting the world famous Burns poem.

The name ‘Cutty Sark’ was selected by the builders of the famous clipper from the poem Tam o’Shanter, penned by Robert Burns in 1791. The tale, recently revealed as Scotland’s favourite Burns poem*, tells the story of an Ayrshire man, Tam, who when riding home from the pub one evening happens across a gathering of witches and warlocks. One of the witches, Nannie, who is described to be wearing a short shirt, or ‘Cutty Sark’, chases after Tam, but only manages to catch the tail of his horse before he makes his escape.

The bottle itself features a scene from the poem etched around the entire bottle, as well as a wax closure showing Tam’s face. The designs are inspired by the late Alexander Goudie, one of Scotland’s finest figurative painters. The bottle is presented in a stunning bespoke oak gift box also decorated in the style of Goudie. It also contains a 134-page book which tells the Tam o’ Shanter story through over 50 illustrated scenes by Goudie, bringing Tam’s story to life in a distinctive and dramatic style.

Jason Craig, Brand Controller, Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky, stated “Our Tam o’Shanter bottling is an exploration of the Cutty Sark brand’s fascinating heritage, and tells the story of how our whisky got its name. Our Master Blender Kirsteen Campbell has brought a darker, wilder edge to our award winning 25 year old blend, echoing the sinister imagery of the Goudie artwork adorning the bespoke gift box and bottle, which stays true to the adventurous spirit of the Cutty Sark brand.”

Only 5,000 bottles of this new blend have been created. It is available from The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange and Gleneagles priced at £199 (RRP). It can also be enjoyed by the dram at Gleneagles.

Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky was first created in London 1923 and relaunched in the UK in 2010. This lighter blend is a versatile whisky and makes a perfect base for long mixed drinks. For more information on Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky please visit www.cutty-sark.com.

*YouGov survey conducted as part of the Year of Creative Scotland 2012.

NOTES

About Cutty Sark Tam o’Shanter 25 year old

Tasting notes:
Appearance: Rich, shadowy and dark
Nose: Drifting incense, exotic spices, jasmine, anise and sandalwood dance and leap out of the glass. Muscular sherried sweetness, vanilla candle wax, rich fruitcake and honey sweetness cavort with aromatic spices and blood orange zest, soft peat smoke and hints of tar
Palate: Full-bodied, boisterous and sweet with a darkly sinister menace, rich velvet curtains surround dark chocolate, eucalyptus, cracked black pepper and drying mint with rich, full, sherry sweetness and toffee
Finish: Lingering, long, rich and sweet yet spicy
46.5% ABV
RRP £199

About Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky

Tasting notes:
Naturally pale gold in colour with a fresh, fragrant aroma supported by hints of vanilla and oak with a long, clean, fruity aftertaste
Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky was first created in London in 1923
Cutty Sark contains some of the finest single malt whiskies in the world including The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Highland Park making it a smooth, light, accessible blended whisky that is well suited to mixing
Cutty Sark was the first of the lighter style whiskies, and is smooth, crisp and light in colour
Cutty Sark is now 100% owned by The Edrington Group, a well respected producer of established whisky and spirits brands including The Macallan and Brugal rum
40% ABV
RSP £17.10

Abbey Whisky – The Secret Casks

Abbey Whisky 30 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

£99.00

 
Abbey Whisky 40 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

£139.00

Abbey Whisky 50 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

£249.00

The Glenfiddich 1974
One thousand limited-edition bottles of the distinctly Glenfiddich whisky, will go on sale globally around the world and only 50 available in the UK market.

Glenfarclas 1973 Cognac Casks
Nose:Wondreful dried apricots lovely malty sweetness,honeycomb candy, light spicy aromas, topped with light white pepper, then classic Glenfarclas burnt demerara sugar.( Just goes to show it does not just come from the Oloroso sherry cask). Finish: Quite a dry finish, which is good as more whisky is required to moisten the mouth.Dark bitter chocolate,German or Belgian chocolate with high cocoa content. Crushed almonds and light oakiness to finish with.

click here to buy

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks A New item, ‘McDonald’s Traditional Ben Nevis’

McDonald’s Traditional Ben Nevis
46% abv
£69.90 inc VAT
£58.25 ex VAT

An Ace peaty Ben Nevis, as good as the best. Ben Nevis (McDonald’s Traditional) OB 46%alc.

A peaty Ben Nevis, as good as the best – from anywhere!

My LFW Descriptors Mat tells me this pale straw in colour.

The aroma is oily, fishy (salmon flesh) with pipe shag-smoke. It covers more parts of the flavour spectrum than most, leather and oilskins (from feinty). Woody notes manifest as orange zest and cinnamon. Wine notes are brown sauce, port and white chocolate and esters are represented with bananas and general fruit. There is also marmite-gravy and biro ink. Over all this is a canopy of smoke, all-covering but masking little. It’s a smoky/kippery/lint smoke, lacking Islay brine and just how you imagine a proper West Coast mainland whisky should taste like.

The overall neat aroma note is, in short, “spectacular!”

The packaging is not at all clear. This is a single malt from Ben Nevis made up of present style Ben Nevis mixed with some more heavily peated Ben Nevis. The purpose is to replicate the style of whisky sold in the 1880s, I can’t vouch for the quality of the forgery but it is a brilliant old-fashioned style of whisky. Limited to about 700 individually numbered bottles this is a gem to-be-sure.

Tasted there is instant smoke, it’s peaty-smoke, TCP peaty. With an oily texture, there’s wet burnt wood (rained on ashes) and oily smoky oysters served with Lapsang Souchong tea. With a long coating finish of smoke, this is as good as the best whisky from anywhere.

Water reveals licorice and more of the above but I enjoyed it most just neat.

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

WHISKY FESTIVAL ORGANISERS IN HIGH SPIRITS

Organisers of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival are in high spirits after witnessing the busiest 24 hour period after launching the programme of events since the Festival began thirteen years ago.

Whisky enthusiasts worldwide wasted no time accessing the Festival’s website when it went live at 19.00 on Saturday, 21st January and within 12 hours, 33 of the 300 events were sold out, including the exclusive Opening Dinner which is being held at The Macallan Distillery this year.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, running from 3rd-7th May, has grown in stature year on year to become one of the most important whisky festivals in the world and one of the key festivals on the Scottish events calendar.

Mary Hemsworth, Festival Manager said that everyone was thrilled with the response to this year’s line up of events, but that there were still plenty of outstanding and quality events for visitors to book.

She commented: “Ticket sales for the first day were in excess of £50,000 with three months still to go until the Festival itself. It’s also encouraging to see that thousands of our whisky fans are keeping up-to-date with the Festival via Facebook and Twitter – they’ll be the first to know of any new events that are added to the programme, and any key announcements we may make over the coming months.”

The most popular events included exclusive tours of distilleries not normally open to the public, ‘ultimate’ tours of some of the finest whisky distilleries in the world, whisky and food pairing workshops, the intriguing Mystery Bus Tour of Speyside, a tour around the five distilleries of Elgin and the popular Seven Stills Bus Tour.

Visitors to the Festival will be coming from as far afield as Japan, Australia, Russia, South Africa, Canada and the USA with the majority making the journey from closer shores such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany and the UK.

Festival goers from across the globe come to Speyside for the authentic whisky experience in Malt Whisky Country where they are treated to a selection of events that showcase the true spirit of Speyside, with workshops, tutorials, tours, instruction, nosings and tastings on offer from some of the industry’s top experts – from blenders to coopers and mashmen to managers. And there are opportunities to delight in the dram in superlative surroundings – at the top of a mountain or on a train, straight from the cask or in the shadow of a historic castle.

Exclusive tours can be booked at distilleries usually closed to the public – including Glen Elgin, Glenlossie and Mannochmore, Glen Spey, Speyburn and Glenrothes – and visitors can enjoy a dram alongside some of the region’s award-winning produce at whisky and food pairing workshops and on the popular Whisky and Food Tours. This year sees the introduction of a Ceilidh Trail, and the Festival atmosphere will be buzzing with the sound of local bands playing in many of the area’s hotels, bars and traditional pubs.

Mary continued: “Speyside and the wider area benefit greatly from the Whisky Festival each year, both in terms of reputation and financially. So it’s important that we offer a strong line up of events to encourage visitors to return year after year to share their passion for the world’s finest whiskies, and to appeal to new visitors to come and experience Malt Whisky country and the Whisky Festival for themselves.

“From the response we’ve seen in these first few days we will be welcoming the usual big crowds, but hopefully this may be the best attended and finest Festival yet.”

Mardi Gras is celebrated with good friends, great beverages, and a lively spirit. And nowhere is Mardi Gras recognized more than in New Orleans, where a local bartender founded Southern Comfort (SoCo) in 1874. This year, Mardi Gras celebrations ranging from small groups of friends to large city-wide celebrations will take place throughout the U.S., from New Orleans to St. Louis to Buffalo to San Diego, among other great cities. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” Fat Tuesday always precedes Ash Wednesday, but can fall anywhere from February 3 to March 9. The floating date is always 47 days before Easter, which falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. This year, Mardi Gras will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 21.

Below are some great food and drink recipes to share with friends and let the good times roll!

Southern Hurricane

In a shaker with ice add
1½ oz. Southern Comfort®
1½ oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
1½ oz. Orange Juice
1½ oz. Pineapple Juice
Splash of Grenadine
Strain into hurricane glass and garnish with cherry and orange

SoCo Fiery Pepper Bloody Mary (a spicy twist to a favorite cocktail)

2 oz. Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper
6 oz. Bloody Mary mix
Squeeze of lime
Combine ingredients in a tall glass with ice. Stir cautiously. Garnish with a celery stick.

Cajun Shrimp and Cucumber

1 pound raw shrimp, peeled, tail off (45-50 count)
2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (one of your favorites)
4 teaspoon Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper
Salt
Pepper
1 English (seedless) cucumber, sliced into rounds
½ cup sour cream
Paprika

Marinate the shrimp in the olive oil, Cajun seasoning, Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper for 10 minutes. Sauté in a hot pan until cooked through and just pink / opaque in color. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Prepare cucumber by slicing it into thin rounds. Place a dollop of sour cream on the cucumber and top with a cooked shrimp. Garnish with a dusting of paprika. Serves 10 – 12.

Southern Comfort Cake

1 (18 1/2 oz.) box yellow cake mix
1 (3 1/4 oz.) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup Southern Comfort
4 eggs
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped

Glaze:
4 tbsp. butter
1/8 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup Southern Comfort

Preheat oven to 325ºF. Combine cake ingredients in a large bowl and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 10-inch tube or 12-cup bundt pan. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. To make glaze, melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in Southern Comfort. Invert cake on serving plate; prick top with fork and drizzle half of glaze evenly over top and sides. After cake has cooled, reheat remainder of glaze and brush evenly over cake. Dust with sifted powdered sugar just before serving. Makes 12 servings.

Happy New Year!
Happy New Arrivals!
From the Park Avenue Liquor Shop.  
 

Jonathan & Eric

Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442 – PH
212-689-6247 – FAX
info@parkaveliquor.com
http://www.parkaveliquor.com/ 

Tomatin: Decades

This unique Single Malt has been crafted to celebrate Master Distiller Douglas Campbell’s ‘decades’ spanning dedication to the Tomatin Distillery. In recognition of his 50+ years at Tomatin, this single malt was created using casks from each of the 5 decades he has worked at the distillery. This single malt-marriage of maturity and youth includes: 1967 Refill Sherry Hogshead. 1976 Oloroso Sherry Butts. 1984 Refill Sherry Hogsheads.1990 First fill Bourbon Barrels, 2005 First fill Bourbon Barrels, The aroma is a lovely sweet maltiness that gives way to many juicy fruit scents. Delicate flowery notes sit atop rich pine and oak.

On the palate tropical fruit abounds along with rich Christmas cake, spice and chocolate. The finish is mellow with a nutty edge. 

Our Price: $105

Black Maple Hill: 16 Year Old, Bourbon

Black Maple Hill 16 year old is a nice smooth bourbon. At 95-proof, it expectedly has a bit of heat but it’s met with a surprisingly mellow and dry finish with hints of butterscotch and oak. From F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal: “…this nose shows bittersweet traces of brown sugar, molasses – a  beguiling, sophisticated, bouquet; emits cocoa bean and dark toffee. A mesmerizing bouquet of the first rank; the palate entry is lush, oily, creamy and more semi-sweet than flat out sweet-lovely even stately tastes of nougat, honey, brown sugar, marzipan and old sweet oak; finishes round, chewy, creamy and succulent..”

**SPIRIT JOURNAL RATING** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED  

Our Price: $165

 
Bruichladdich: DNA, 1985

Another Ultra-Rare Bruichladdich: MCMLXXXV Is edition three in the definitive Bruichladdich DNA Series.  For this rare limited-edition release, Master Distiller Jim McEwan has married together some of the greatest casks in the Bruichladdich warehouses from the mid-80s. The traditional American-oak bourbon casks, lend classic creamy, vanilla notes, and among the very last of their fantastic sherry butts – the end of an era.

Multiple sensory impressions: Opening with classic Oloroso overtones of sultanas, dates, raisins, sweet barley sugar and a hint of tangerine. Later, beautiful drifts of vanilla and nutty nougat. The fruitiness of guava, melon and pear all add to the anticipation of tasting a rare whisky.

Magical on the palate; the flavors lie deep in the spirit of this 30 year-old. They spread gently over the taste buds with peat fire warmth, then without hesitation, the sherry takes the lead. Enjoy the company of this rare and handsome Laddie – the last two sherry butts of 1985.

A lingering finish, so gentle and soft, as though it does not want to leave. 

Our Price: $525

 
Bruichladdich: Islay Barley, 2004

Bruichladdich has a passionate belief in their barley. To these Scotch makers it is a living organic expression of the land that gave birth to it. This is the first Islay-grown barley to be distilled in recent times. The 2004 is the inaugural bottling of Bruichladdich’s ‘Islay Barley Series’, a unique and fascinating exploration of the influence of terroir on artisanal single malt whisky. 

The nose is a study in directness and purity. First, lemon juice sprinkled over crushed barley. Then, tropical fruits – grapefruit, pineapple, mango, guava – even sherbet arrive. A fabulous combination of vanilla-rich oak and sweet malt join the excitement as well. Hints of honeysuckle, brine, and finally oak rise to embrace the more delicate scents. 

The first thing you notice on the palate is amazing creaminess, the silkiness of a much older spirit. It glides over the palate – warm, sweet and fruity. Then, this oak-fire heat spreads evenly over the taste buds. You can really taste the light, vanilla notes from the toasted staves. The multi-layering complexity of flavors is absolutely amazing for such a young malt. 

Our Price: $68 

 
High West: Son of Bourye (“S.O.B.”)

The Son of Bourye gets its name from High West’s original Bourye, a blend of straight Bourbon and Rye whiskies. As you might expect, Son of Bourye is made from younger whiskies than the original. Not chill filtered, not carbon treated. 

The mashbill is as follows:

Whiskey #1: 5yr Old Bourbon- 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley malt, Whiskey #2: 3yr Old Rye – 95% rye, 5% barley malt. The ratios of whiskies are top secret! However, no bourbon today has more rye in the final product!

According to High West…”Son of Bourye is best enjoyed around a campfire while looking at the Milky Way. Important! Jackalopes will attack if cornered or provoked. To avoid injury, quickly fall to the ground, remain calm and still, while humming the Roy Rogers song, ‘Happy Trails to You.’ If there are multiple Jackalopes, they will begin singing in the round with you. Make your escape after the second verse!

Our Price: $46

Loch Fyne Whiskies stocks  ‘Abhainn Dearg 5cl Miniature’

 Abhainn Dearg 5cl Miniature
 46% abv
 £7.90 inc vat
 £6.58 ex vat

 This is the first whisky from new distillery on the Isle of Lewis. Distilled in 2008 and bottled when it reached 3 years old.

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Balvenie’s Craftsman’s Reserve #1 – The Cooper

We look forward to new releases at TWE Towers just like everyone else and when Balvenie announced an online unveiling of their newest dram, along with tasting packs for us to follow on at home, me and Tim of this … Continue reading >>