Balcones – Don’t Mess With Texas
I have to admit I wasn’t all aboard the whole “craft distilling” boat when I heard that we were bringing the likes of Corsair, Balcones, and Redemption into the UK for the first time, but after two public appearances of these … Continue reading >>
The American Distilling Institute’s craft distillery map. There’s lots of them.
GlenDronach Single Cask 26 / 1993 / 19 Year Old 3rd UK Exclusive
The third UK exclusive from GlenDronach distillery is finally here, and it looks like they have released yet another superb tasting dram. Single cask 26, a 19 year old single malt whisky, laid to rest in 1993 in a Pedro Ximenez sherry butt before being bottled in 2012.
GlenDronach Single Cask 26 Tasting Notes
Appearance
Rich ruby – mahogany.
Nose
Chocolate, figs and spices in abundance.
Palate
Layers of dark chocolate and orange in harmony with nutmeg, raisins
and delicate spices.
£70.50 (£58.75 ex vat)
Click here to buy GlenDronach Single Cask 26 UK Exclusive
Abbey Whisky
enquiries@abbeywhisky.com
www.abbeywhisky.com
0800 051 7737
St Andrew’s Night – Whisky Tasting – Hurricane Sandy Benefit
Momedia Ltd
Friday, 30 November 2012 from 19:30 to 22:00 (GMT)
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Event Details
Calling all whisky fans – enjoy St Andrew’s Night with some of the finest single malt whiskies and live Bluegrass music! The informal whisky tasting event will take place at Summerhall – Edinburgh’s buzzing creative hub for the arts. The ticket price includes whisky, oatcakes and smoked salmon. At the door you will receive a warm welcome, whisky glass and tasting notes.
Taste six of the finest single malts from the Highlands, Speyside and Islay including: Glenmorangie Classic, Glenmorangie Lasanta, Glenfarclas 10yo & Glenfarclas 25yo, Ardbeg 10yo and Ardbeg Galileo.
Live music: by Mairi Orr and her band, foot-tapping bluegrass and Americana with a Scottish twist. The line-up is 5-string banjo, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and double bass.
“Mairi Or is blessed with one of those perfect crystal clear voices that perfectly suits carefully crafted roots music..” Jonathan Aird, Americana UK
Thank you for your support – helping replace bagpipes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. The evening supports pipe bands in the USA worst hit by Hurricane Sandy. There are over 120 pipe bands in New York and New Jersey. Many band members have lost instruments and kit. Our aim is to send over a number of new bagpipes to replace those destroyed. Each pipe band who receives a new set of bagpipes will be listed on Pipefest.com, Tartanweek.com and Whisky-drinker.com alongside the fundraising total of this event.
SPECIAL THANKS:
The LIST: www.list.co.uk/event/337776-st-andrews-night-whisky-tasting-hurricane-sandy-benefit/
STV Local: local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/201860-city-pipers-join-forces
Ardbeg: www.ardbeg.com
Glenmorangie: www.glenmorangie.com
Whisky Drinker: www.whisky-drinker.com
SPRINGBANK SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
Greetings Society Members
Winter is fast approaching with dark cold mornings and days when you donʼt know what the weather is going to be doing. As you all know Campbeltown can go through all four seasons in one day!!
Things usually slow down in Campbeltown over the winter but we are still busy here, there are still quite a lot of visitors to the distillery, this year we have had quite a few larger groups coming to the town and more and more are using the Tasting Room, enjoying a few drams with local produce to compliment our whisky. We include a little smoked salmon from our local smokehouse, a taste of our local cheese with oatcakes made by a local baker and of course a wee bit of chocolate (not locally made unfortunately).
This year we have had quite a few Society Members visiting us and it was really nice to be able to meet them and put a face to the email!
SOCIETY BOTTLES
We have now started to send the Society Bottles to the Cadenhead Shops in Europe, members still have to order by contacting Campbeltown so that we know how many tosend. Hopefully this will work out and all future Society bottles can be sent this way. We still have some of the Longrow 10 y/o and the Springbank 14 y/o available.
If you would like to order either of these Society bottles please let me know. The bottles can be sent to the shops in Europe with their next orders, following the same procedure aswe have just done. We would take orders here for the bottles, you would stipulate which shop you would like your bottles delivered to then when they are on their way an email would be sent to you advising of the phone number of the shop so that you can contact toarrange payment and dispatch – or to check when you can call in to the shop to uplift your bottles.
The next Society bottling should also be able to go to the US as the new importer there is now established. A lot of waiting to get things going and I do apologise for this but now that we are ʻon the moveʼ and more importantly legal, things should improve.
We can now start to look for another cask to bottle for Society Members, Frank and Gavin will be “on the case” and weʼll get a few samples together to pick the best. Perhaps this time we will send out a few samples to members to see which one they prefer. It would only be a few members, so a “lucky dip” to pick the winners.
We have just taken delivery of the new Springbank Calvados in the shop today, itʼs a 12y/o which has been 6 years in a bourbon cask and 6 years in a Calvados cask, strength 52.7% and costs £58.
Tasting Note:
Colour – Golden syrup
Nose – The influence of the Calvados casks is immediately apparent, with notes of greenapples, citrus fruits and sweet toffee showing themselves in the beginning. Vanilla essence, pears and some gentle spice come later.
Palate – A very lively dram at cask strength. Black pepper and rhubarb give way to demerara sugar, green grapes, a touch of cinnamon and a little bit of home-made fudge. This is an oily whisky for sure.
Finish – Orange marmalade, gooseberries and a pleasant, dry, peatiness leave a lasting impression
The staff up at the distillery have been working very hard both inside and outside and the place is looking very smart and tidy. There have certainly not been any “idle hands” overthe past few months. Our Distillery Manager, Gavin, is very neat and tidy and this must be rubbing off on everyone else, I think.
SPRINGBANK WHISKY SCHOOL
The whisky school will run next year from week beginning 6th May until week beginning 8th July, 10 weeks, arriving here on the Sunday and leaving on the Friday. Places are starting to fill up but we still have plenty to fill. There are only six places each week so thatwe can ensure that everyone has a chance to work in all aspects of the Distillery and spend as much time as possible with the Distillery staff. The staff are all very friendly and enjoy the Whisky School, being able to pass on their skills to people who are obviously so interested in what they do. Frank is busy making up new information for next yearʼs pupils and we are hoping to present them in booklet form which will be a reminder of your time spent with us here in Campbeltown.
Last year we published a piece on facebook weekly with a photograph of that weekʼspupils (all still smiling at the end of the week) and comments from the “Headmaster” FrankMcHardy. There were no “detentions” or “punishments” handed out to anyone throughout the ten week period and everyone seemed to get on really well, during and after working hours. We even had one pupil dressed up in a kilt – you know who you are!!!!
So, if you would like to join us next year please let me know by emailing whiskyschool@springbankwhisky.com and I will send you some information and a registration form.
SPRINGBANK OPEN DAY 2013
Next yearʼs Open Day is starting to be discussed, plans being made, etc. The Open Day will be on Thursday 23rd May and as we get nearer the time all will be revealed as to whatwe will be doing. There will of course be Single Casks and Masterclasses and tours, but we will have to wait and see what else is in store for you.
Watch this space ………………………….
SPRINGBANK SALES TEAM
The Sales Team have been kept very busy these past few months, Sales Manager Ranald Watson has been jetting around the globe spreading the Springbank word, MelanieStanger has been travelling round the UK and Europe, attending shows and Tastings and our newest member John McCallum has also been out and about, finding his feet, so to speak. When we get to the Open Day next year, John will be an “old hand” by then and will no doubt be involved in some of the tastings. Melanie was involved in the Open Day this year so she has already “cut her teeth”.
LONGROW CV
We now have the new Longrow which replaces the Longrow CV, the packaging is rather eye catching I think. The tasting note for the Longrow is as follows:
Colour: Light amber with slight olive highlights.
Nose: Very creamy, vanilla custard. The smoke develops gradually, like a slow burning log fire, never overpowering butalways reassuring. Our guest taster was reminded of marshmallows toastedon a campfire – crisp on the outside and sticky sweet in the middle!
Palate: Incredibly well balanced – rich and creamy with a slight medicinal hint. The smoke is
always present, washing over the palate in waves, like the soft billows of smoke from the kiln.
Finish: The gentle smoke lingers and lingers leaving you yearning for more!
The Cadenhead shop now also has Longrow 5cl £5 and Hazelburn 12y/o 5cl £5 in stock, as well as the Springbank 10y/o and 15y/o 5cl. These have proved to be very popular since being introduced recently.
St Andrew’s Night
The Tasting Room at Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop, Campbeltown are hosting a St Andrew’s Night on Saturday 1st December. There will be a 3 coarse dinner and a whisky tasting. Tickets available from Cadenhead Whisky Shop, Campbeltown at a cost of £25 per person. Time, 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm. If it is as successful as the Hallowe’en night we held recently it promises to be good.
Hallowe’en Night
We held a Hallowe’en night on 27th October in the Tasting Room and although fancy dress was not compulsory everyone joined in and came along dressed in various costumes, most of which were home made. We had Dorothy and her friends from the Wizard of Oz, a giant pumpkin, Edward Scissor Hands (the winner of the competition), a girly clown and lots more. The staff were dressed as zombies with Donald as the zombie chef, Grant as a very scary zombie and Mairi, Julie, Leslie and myself as zombie waitresses.
We enjoyed a lovely warming winter dinner cooked by Donald and accompanied by cocktails rather than a whisky tasting. The evening, of course, included some games – “dooking” for apples – surprised there wasn’t any mess for this one, and throwing corks into a pumpkin to win a prize. The Tasting Room was suitably dressed for the occasion with spiders webs, skulls, bones and gravestones, and spooky music playing all night (not too loudly).
This was our first Hallowe’en “function” and hopefully not our last.
Society & Canada
Our Sales Team have been working away in the background trying to set up something for Canada so that our Members there can enjoy the benefits of the Society without having to have their Society bottles delivered to the UK. We should soon be able to ship to Alberta in Canada if things go according to plan, but more news on that when it has been finalised, hopfully not too long!!!
That’s about all of our news for the minute, but as soon as Frank and Gavin have earmarked a few possible casks for the Society bottle I will let everyone know.
Meantime we wish you all well.
SLÁINTE!!!!
Janet
Please visit http://www.springbankwhisky.com/ to join the Springbank Society
ANGELS WHISKY CLUB – AWARDS 2012
We gathered once again at the usual watering hole; Christies pub, Perth, Scotland. All the usual suspects were invited; Paul, Lizzie, Ming, Boab, Diageo Man, Ron, apologies from Kevin, still out on the rigs of the North Sea, Offaly man was in Ireland. Now please bear in mind, we are no professional nose/tasters, we are a herd of whisky lovin people who enjoy a dram, why choose these drams? Over the year we have “had a go” at these and many others, these were some real favourites.
We all brought at least one dram to try, Billy & Helen threw one in also. Beers started the event, as everyone dondered in, we perched at the usual end of the (newly refurbished) bar and brought oot the first award contender. At this stage let me introduce the contenders; Cutty Sark Storm, Isle of Mull blend, Ben Riach 1995 single cask, Springbank 15 yo 1997, Tyrconnell Single Malt.
We started with the easy to drink drams, Mull first, we all liked it. A wee dram of Irish next as we downed the Tyrconnell, we all liked that as well! Next was the Storm, strangely – we all liked that too! That left us two to try (again), well what can I say? They were both excellent drams, but the Springbank slightly edged it. According to the panel, our whisky of the year is the Springbank 15 yo 1997. Nose: Oaky, citrus, caramel, brown sugar and sweeties. Taste: spicy, citrus. Result: we all agreed, a really nice dram. A long finish.
So after an almost 100% decision we had to test again just to be sure (but we changed the order a wee bit). Cutty Sark Storm; The creation of Cutty Sark Master Blender Kirsteen Campbell. She has used many of the whiskies used to create other expressions of the Cutty Sark range, including grain whisky from North British and single malts from Highland Park and Macallan. The differences are the single malts used in Storm, these single malts are older. A bright golden yellow with niff’s of brown sugar, raisins and sultanas, syrup. The finish is long and grabs your taste buds, easy drinking (too easy, eh slow down Boab). Isle of Mull blend; A blend of Highland Malt and Grain Whiskies. Sweet and fruity with a hint of shortbread. http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/isleofmull.asp Tyrconnell Single Malt; This whiskey is elegant, sweet taste, fresh, malty, fruity bouquet, smooth sweet taste and delicate dry finish. A wee gem from the Cooley stable, always a favourite in the pub. Springbank 15 yo 1997; Nose: soy sauce. Water brings chocolate? orange, sherry, touch of smoke. Fruitier with water, which we tried of course. Just a wee wetting. And so to the Ben Riach 1995 single cask; From cask 7164 distilled in May 1995, this 16-year-old bottled at 58.3% vol. On the nose, bananas, citrus and oregano, melons and lychee. 695 bottles, each bottle is hand-numbered – we had 693. We all agreed bananas, we ended up all do the “monkey!” hoppin aboot and hands under the armpit, what a right bunch we looked.
The second outcome? Same as before but only by a nose from the Ben Riach a very close second.
Awards took place at Christies Bar in Perth, Scotland. November 2012.
www.angelswhiskyclub.com is free or everyone to join. Patron; Charlie Maclean.
2012 Springbank & Ralfy Charity Bottle Auction
For the third year, Ralfy teams up with a craft Distillery to present a unique bottle package at auction to raise funds for a Distillery-local charity, in this instance, a Primary School have arranged for the kids to take on a produce-garden to grow their own fruit and vegetables for the school dinners and for local families. They need to buy clothing, boots, tools and seeds so the auction of the “Springbank 1of1” should help.
Hi folks. The 20th auction is now live with a record-breaking 949 lots! Something for everyone. Again.
It will run until Sunday, December, 02.
Best wishes from Glasgow
Bill, Tam and Mick
http://www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com/store/category/48_the-20th-auction/
THE MACALLAN APPOINTS NEW MASTER OF WOOD
One of the world’s leading single malt whiskies, The Macallan, has unveiled Stuart MacPherson as its new Master of Wood. Stuart MacPherson joined the Clyde Cooperage in Glasgow in 1979, beginning his four year apprenticeship as a cooper, and rising through the ranks to become Cooperage Manager in 2001.
Today Stuart oversees 16 production coopers, 3 apprentices and 7 service coopers, based at our 2 cooperages for the supply and repair of the oak casks, which are essential to the distinctive maturation character of The Macallan. He is responsible for the day to day running of the cooperage, production planning and ensuring that the distillery receives casks that meet our exacting quality standards.
In assuming the role of Master of Wood for The Macallan, Stuart is the primary source of information on The Macallan’s oak casks and the influence on the whiskies. He is also involved in the far reaching brand education programme around wood.
Commenting on his new role, Stuart MacPherson said, “Taking on the role of Master of Wood for The Macallan feels like a natural progression for me. Having worked as a cooper since 1979, this feels like the ultimate job where I can bring together all my practical experience of wood and casks to assist in driving forward our rigorous wood policy for the coming years.”
This is a crucial role as the influence of the oak maturation casks on the final character of The Macallan is critical. The huge investment in these casks pays a dividend in the distinctive character of the final whisky, reckoned to account for some 60% of the final aromas and flavours of The Macallan.
Ken Grier, Director of Malts at Edrington, owners of The Macallan, said, “Stuart is a great addition to the Macallan team and his role as Master of Wood is vital to the sustaining the highest quality approach to wood which sits at the very heart of The Macallan.”
Stuart MacPherson takes up the role following the retirement of George Espie on 1st October 2012. Stuart lives in Lenzie with his wife Carol and son Scott. He is keen on all aspects of sport ranging from athletics to football however his main passion nowadays is golf.
Visit The Macallan at www.themacallan.com
Notes:
ABOUT THE MACALLAN
Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies. The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan.
Maxxium UK:
Maxxium UK Limited is a company registered in Scotland under the Companies Acts (Registered number SC203623) and has its registered office at Maxxium House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4RT, to which address any notices should be sent.
Maxxium UK Limited is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Global Spirits and Wine Inc and The Edrington Group. Its portfolio of premium spirits includes: The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark blended Scotch; Highland Park, Laphroaig and The Macallan single malts; Courvoisier cognac; Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon. In addition Maxxium has premium brands across a number of other drinks categories including Sourz, Brugal, After Shock, Sauza and Harveys. Maxxium UK also represents third-party drinks brands including Stolichnaya vodka, Bols liqueurs, Galliano and The Glenrothes.
For further information on our brands and how to enjoy them log on to www.mixxit.co.uk
Sherry & Madeira tasting: Wednesday, 5th December 2012
If Sherry makes you think of a dusty, past it’s best, half-empty bottle sitting on your auntie’s sideboard, then think again! As the cold nights draw in we offer you a warm welcome and invite you to discover why Jancis Robinson says (of Sherry), ‘In a nutshell: The world’s most neglected wine treasure.’ We’ll be sharing 6 different examples of this often under-rated drink and offering food matching ideas to delight you and your guests during the coming festive season.
At the end of the evening you’ll understand why those in the know are paying more attention to this versatile and delicious wine…
…definitely not to be trifled with…
Telephone 01384 394518 or email James to reserve your tickets
Starting at 7pm James Baker will be guiding us round the world of sherries and Madeiras, brushing off the cobwebs from these often pigeon-holed drinks.
£15.00 inc VAT
£12.50 ex VAT
Tickets to the Worlds First Premier Luxury Whisky Show –
“Nth 2013” Tickets On sale CyBeR MoNdAy.
10% OFF ALL TICKETS CYBER MONDAY SPECIAL ONLY.
To purchase tickets click here:
Tickets to the ‘Nth 2013’ – Ultimate Whisky Experience
It’s today folks!
