Bowmore Whisky Launches Partnership with River Cottage’s John Wright and Gill Meller

Further establishing the brand’s positioning with food and the outdoors

Bowmore Single Malt whisky has teamed up with John Wright, the UK’s leading foraging expert, and top chef Gill Meller, both from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage, to launch a series of delicious seafood and dessert recipes to match perfectly with Islay’s first Single Malt. Created especially by the duo using forageable ingredients, the recipes and collaboration further cement the whisky’s natural partnership with food and the outdoors.

Complex yet perfectly balanced, Bowmore 12 Years Old reflects the raw essence of Bowmore and Islay, its magical island home off the west coast of Scotland. With its subtle notes of lemon and honey, complemented beautifully by Bowmore’s trademark peaty smokiness, Bowmore 12 Years Old’s natural partner is seafood.

Kirsteen Beeston, Head of Brands at Morrison Bowmore Distillers, adds: “We’re really excited to be further establishing Bowmore’s relationship with food and the outdoors with the foraging activity. The partnership with Gill and John is a great fit for the brand, we hope the recipes will inspire consumers to enjoy whisky and food in a fresh and innovative way’.

Surrounded by the unpolluted waters of the Atlantic, this elemental island is home to some of the finest and most sought after seafood in Europe, such as salmon, langoustines, scallops and oysters. Having explored Islay, John Wright and Gill Meller have developed these mouth-watering recipes:

Bowmore Dry Cured Oak and Peat-Smoked Sirloin and Crispy Gutweed

Pine-Fired Mussels with Spear-Leaved Orache

Devilled Dressed Brown Crab on Toast with Bowmore 12 Years Old

Wood-Roasted Lobster and Scallops with Wild Sorrel Sauce

Sea Lettuce, Clam, Potato and Oyster Rostis

Chocolate and Seaweed Pannacotta with Bowmore Butter Shortbread

Chocolate and Bowmore-Soaked Prune Fondant

John and Gill have also created two inspired chocolate dishes to pair with the much-awarded expression Bowmore 15 Years Old ‘Darkest’. Matured in boubon casks, followed by three years inOloroso sherry casks, the result is a rich, deep expression with a warming finish. Although delicious on its own, the dark chocolate brings out its rich fruitiness and the trademark Bowmore smokiness.

Bowmore’s collaboration with Paul A Young will also continue through 2012. For one of the darkest and most magical nights of the year – Bonfire Night – the groundbreaking Master Chocolatier is creating the perfect hot chocolate serve using Bowmore 15 Years Old ‘Darkest’. The expression is incorporated into a dark chocolate ganache bon bon, which the consumer then stirs into the hot chocolate drink and watches as the ganache and whisky melt away.

For more information, please visit www.bowmore.com and www.facebook.com/bowmore

UK Distributor: Cellar Trends on 01283 217703 or enquiries@cellartrends.co.uk

Ardbeg Galileo

For those just interested in the titular whisky who don’t want to read my random wifflings here’s a tl;dr version of this blog post: despite the rumours Ardbeg Galileo is not sold out everywhere and we now have it available … Continue reading >>

KILCHOMAN LAUNCHES the 2nd EDITION of 100% ISLAY

We are pleased to announce the Kilchoman 100 % Islay 2^nd Release is available now.

This release has been produced from barley grown, malted, distilled,matured and bottled at the distillery.  It has been aged for over 3 years in a combination of fresh and refilled Bourbon barrels. 

 Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Managing Director, commented “The addition of 50% 4 year old in the vatting has given the malt an extra depth of character and roundness”. 

50% abv unchillfiltered, natural color 

RRP: $89.99

50 Years’ Service and Counting

Hi all,

This week I was fortunate to join a very special celebration dinner in Dufftown at William Grant’s second distillery – The Balvenie. Around 160 colleagues, journalists, family members and Master Blenders from other companies gathered to celebrate David Stewart’s 50th year with William Grant & Sons. David is quite simply a legend in the whisky…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,

Ludo

Mulberry Bank Auctions is holding a whisky sale on September 18th.

Details can be found at Mulberry Bank Auctions September 18th, 2012

The beginning of winter is hot toddy time. Try it Japanese style!

London September 2012: A hot toddy is one way to keep on top of cooler weather and here is a hot toddy recipe Japanese style. It’s a warming cocktail for the season they call Ritto, the “Beginning of Winter”, starting around 5th November.

Hakushu Ritto:

50ml Hakushu 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
75ml hot green tea
Teaspoon of runny honey
Pinch of powdered ginger
Squeeze of lemon juice
Pour Hakushu and green tea into a mug, add honey, ginger and lemon juice
Stir until honey is dissolved
Add ginger slice and serve

With a cocktail to welcome in each of their 24 seasons the Japanese raise a Hakushu Ritto (hot toddy) in early November to acknowledge the first sign of winter.

Whatever your normal preference for a warming winter drink this is a recipe with a difference.

Suntory Brand Ambassador Zoran Peric has created a cocktail for each of the 24 Japanese seasons, and the Hakushu Ritto combines the subtle tastes and aromas of a 12 year old single malt whisky with hot tea to stimulate the taste buds in colder weather.

Suntory Japanese whiskies are world beaters having won more than 60 international awards since 2003 and whisky lovers have taken to them. There is something about their subtle aromas and delicate flavours which appeal to the palate whether taken neat, over ice, in cocktails or in a hot toddy as above..

Suntory Single Malt Whiskies are firm favourites in Japan and here in Europe. Enjoy them and especially the warm glow that comes with the Hakushu Ritto.

Note: Pronouncing Suntory names

Yamazaki – (Ya-ma-zarkee)

Hakushu – (Ha-koo-shoe)

Hibiki – (Hi-bi-kee)

Suntory single malt whiskies are available from: Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Exchange, independent specialist retailers and drinkon.com

Hakushu 12 year old single malt £49.95

The Yamazaki and Hakushu range of single malt and Hibiki blended whiskies from Suntory is distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. For all sales enquiries contact: sales@cellartrends.co.uk

Morning dew shows summer is in decline – cheer up with a seasonal cocktail

London 2012: Take a tip from the Japanese. When first sign of morning dew appears it shows summer is winding down. So cheer up with a Kanro cocktail made with Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky. Kanro is one of the Japanese 24 seasons . Then when the dew turns to frost the Japanese will warm up with a Soko Cocktail made with Hibiki Blended Malt Whisky. Two pleasant remedies to raise the spirits as summer begins to fade. Both cocktails are from a range of seasonal cocktail recipes created by Zoran Peric, Suntory Brand Ambassador, to bring that inner glow in a month of chilly weather.

Yamazaki Kanro – Season of white dew (8 October)

50ml Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
12.5ml Chocolate liqueur
Coffee infused iceball
Pour ingredients over iceball in a chunky Old
Fashioned glass
Stir 24 times and garnish with coffee beans and dark chocolate

Hibiki Soko – Day and night of equal length (22 October)

50ml Hibiki 17 Year Old Blended
Malt Whisky
12.50ml PX
Dash of Cherry bitters
Pour ingredients into a classic
Martini Glass
Stir gently 24 times and garnish with maraschino cherries

Suntory Japanese whiskies are world beaters having won more than 60 international awards since 2003 and whisky lovers have taken to them. There is something about their subtle aromas and delicate flavours which appeal to the palate whether taken neat, over ice or in cocktails.

Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky and Hibiki 17 Year Old Blended Malt Whisky are firm favourites in Japan and here in Europe. Enjoy them and the warm glow that comes with the Yamazaki Kanro and Hibiki Soko cocktails.

Note: Pronouncing Suntory names

Yamazaki – (Ya-ma-zarkee)

Hakushu – (Ha-koo-shoe)

Hibiki – (Hi-bi-kee)

Yamazaki single malt and Hibiki blended whiskies are available from: Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop, independent specialist retailers and drinkon.com priced from:

Yamazaki 12 year old £42

Hibiki 17 year old £70

The Yamazaki and Hibiki range of single malt and blended malt whiskies from Suntory is distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. For all sales enquiries contact: sales@cellartrends.co.uk

Expecting a touch of frost to appear – follow Japanese tradition with a timely Hibiki Hakuro cocktail

London August 2012: Don’t get depressed when you see the first frosty morning dew, even if summer is fast becoming just a memory. The Japanese have just the answer, time to mix a cheery cocktail or two for the month of September. With their 24 seasons (and a cocktail for each) there is always a way they can commiserate or celebrate the weather. Try a Hibiki Hakuro or a Hakushu Shuubun. They are from a range of seasonal cocktails created by Zoran Peric, Suntory Brand Ambassador.

Hibiki Hakuro is the cocktail to banish the blues or to celebrate the coming of the cooler seasons when dew appears. Hakushu Shuubun will repeat the effect in the second half of September, time of the Autumn Equinox.

Hakuro – when the white morning dew appears (8 September)

That fall in temperature is the wake-up call for an Hibiki Hakuro cocktail.

Hibiki Hakuro : 50ml Hibiki 17 Year Old Blended Malt whisky

50ml Sugarcane juice

2.5ml Milk thistle

Pour ingredients over ice, stir thoroughly

Serve in a chunky highball glass

Garnish with a twist of orange

Shuubun – the time of the Autumn Equinox (22 September)

If you are banishing the blues try a Hakushu Shuubun.

Hakushu Shuubun: 50ml Hakushu 12 Year Old Single Malt whisky

20ml Yuzu juice

20ml Gomme syrup

1 Egg white

Shake ingredients thoroughly and pour into a cocktail goblet

Garnish with lemon twist

Suntory Japanese whiskies are world beaters having won more than 60 international awards since 2003 and whisky lovers have taken to them. There is something about their subtle aromas and delicate flavours which appeal to the palate whether taken neat, over ice or in cocktails.

Hakushu 12 year old Single Malt whisky and Hibiki 17 year old Blended Malt whisky are firm favourites in Japan and here in Europe. Taste them at their best in the Hibiki Hakuro and Hakushu Shuubun cocktails above.

Note: Pronouncing Suntory names

Yamazaki – (Ya-ma-zarkee)

Hakushu – (Ha-koo-shoe)

Hibiki – (Hi-bi-kee)

Suntory single malt and blended whiskies are available from: Selfridges, Harvey Nicols, The Whisky Exchange, Whisky Shop, independent specialist retailers and drinkon.com priced from:

Hakushu 12 year old around £52

Hibiki 17 year old around £70

Japanese whiskies from Suntory are distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. For all sales enquiries contact: sales@cellartrends.co.uk

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES 2012 ANTIQUE COLLECTION

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Sept. 4, 2012) At long last, Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing its 2012 Antique Collection in September. The much anticipated collection will once again feature five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs. Here’s what ardent fans can expect:

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old

The previous edition of this bourbon was honored with a Gold Medal at the 2012 International Wine and Spirits Competition. The 2012 edition was distilled in the spring of 1993 and has been aging on the 2nd, 3rd and 6th floors of Warehouses I and K. After nearly two decades of aging under its belt, it has been described as dry and delicate, with hints of leather, almonds and tobacco.

George T. Stagg

The 2011 release of this perennial favorite was named the “Number One Spirit in the World” by F. Paul Pacult in the 2012 Spirit Journal for the second year in a row, as well as the “Second Finest Whiskey in the World” in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. The 2012 George T. Stagg was found in Warehouses H, I, K and L. This uncut, unfiltered bourbon was distilled back in the spring of 1995 and weighs in at 142.8 proof—some strong stuff! This whiskey tastes of rich dark chocolate, coffee and vanilla.

Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old

Last year’s release won a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This 2012 rye whiskey release was aged in Warehouses K and is described as intense spice with underlying sweetness and dry finish.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye is an uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. The 2011 edition was once again named “Rye Whiskey of the Year” in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2006, aged on the fifth floor of Warehouse O and weighs in at 132.4 proof. The flavor has been described as cinnamon, dark fruit, allspice, lingering.

William Larue Weller

William Larue Weller is the Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon. The previous edition was the recipient of a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The 2012 offering was distilled in the spring of 2000 and aged on the second and fourth floors of Warehouses I and P. This William Larue Weller release registers in at 130 proof. It tastes of dark vanilla, almond and plum.

The Antique Collection was introduced more than a decade ago and has become a cult favorite among whiskey connoisseurs. Since 2000 these whiskeys have garnered numerous awards from such notable publications as Whisky Advocate Magazine, Spirit Journal and Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

“Every year the excitement and anticipation of these whiskeys grows,” said Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “We’re excited as well to finally be able to share them, and look forward to seeing what critics and consumers alike think about them.”

These Antique Collection whiskeys will be available in limited quantities starting in late September. Suggested retail price is $70 each. For more information visit www.greatbourbon.com or contact Kris Comstock at kcomstock@buffalotrace.com

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

Loch Fyne WhiskiesStocks ‘Ardbeg Galileo’

Ardbeg Galileo 49% abv

£69.90 inc vat (£58.25 ex vat)

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