I have three exceptional opportunities for you this week, including two incredible opportunities for people living in the NYC area.

First: Be one of 24 lucky WhiskeyLovers to spend an evening with Chip Tate of Balcones Distillery, enjoying a spectacular meal at New York’s hottest new restaurant: Harlow NYC.

Balcones was founded by Chip in 2008 and, in just five years has become one of the most awarded craft distillers in the United States.

On Saturday evening, April 6th, Chip will host an intimate whiskey dinner at Harlow NYC, where Chef Danny Ye has created a special five-course menu just for the evening – each course was designed to pair with a Balcones Whiskey. (scroll down for the evening’s menu)

The cost for the evening is $150 per person, including tax and gratuity.

Seating is limited to just 24 people. Reservations are mandatory, and can be purchased here…and better make them now, because with just 24 seats available, once they’re gone…

Second: On Wednesday April 3rd, WhiskyLive NYC comes to Pier Sixty, at Chelsea Piers on Manhattan’s West Side, for an outrageous evening of whisky exploration and education. Hundreds of exceptional whiskies from around the world will be poured, while Master Classes by renowned industry thought leaders are offered along with great food and music.

Tickets for the event are:

– $149 for the VIP treatment, which includes early entrance to the event at 5:00pm, 90 minutes earlier than standard admission, a Whisky Live tasting glass, show guide, full dinner buffet and 14 drink vouchers.

– $119 for regular entrance at 6:30pm, plus a Whisky Live tasting glass, show guide, full dinner buffet and 8 drink vouchers.

But wait!..Enter coupon code “explorer” when you purchase your tickets, and receive 15% off your ticket price. And VIP ticket purchasers will also get a 1-year subscription to Whisky Magazine.

Third: This week’s featured whisky: Ledaig 10 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Launched in 2006, Ledaig 10 YO ($45.65/ bottle) comes steeped in a rich traditional culture. The name, pronounced ‘Led-chig’, comes from the Gaelic for ‘safe haven’, which is an apt moniker for a malt distilled on the Isle of Mull, surrounded by unpredictable local seas off the west coast of Scotland.

Ledaig’s character owes its quality to many sources; the traditional 18th century Tobermory distillery, the maturation for the full 10 years in superior oak wood casks. The dark and aromatic lochan water source situated high on the mountains, the malted barley that has been exclusively peat dried and the 46.3% alcohol by volume that complements the smokiness of the palate perfectly. This is a many-layered masterpiece.

If you live within 150 miles of NYC, I urge you to attend Whisky Live NYC on Wednesday April 3rd, and then join me for an unforgettable evening with Chip Tate of Balcones at Harlow on Saturday April 6th.

Until next week, I wish you the finest of spirits!

Doug Stone
Founder
ForWhiskeyLovers.com

Chef Danny Ye’s Menu for the Dinner with Chip Tate

First Course:
Rumble cured salmon with wasabi dijonnaise
Pairing: Balcones Rumble

Second Course:
Tuna crudo with pickled red chili, prosciutto, watercress, and a Brimstone Tosazu reduction
Pairing: Balcones Baby Blue

Third Course:
Nodi marini with Brimstone braised oxtail
Balcones pairing: Brimstone

Fourth Course:
Salmon with chorizo and Asian pear salsa.
Balcones pairing: True Blue 100

Dessert:
Single Malt Churros with warm chocolate sauce
Balcones pairing: Texas 1 Single Malt

LEDAIG 10YO SINGLE MALT ISLAND WHISKY

DISTILLERS TASTING NOTES

Color: Bright lemony gold

Nose: Immediately pungent with sweet tar and creosote aromas that release wood smoked fragrances with hints of liquorice and leather

Body: Sweet, smoky flavors with an explosion of spicy pepper, then boast a savory salty maltiness

Finish: Liquorice and cloves combine into a medium length smoked pepper finish. An ideal balance of peat, smoke and wood.

Karuizawa 1996/2013, 16yo 1st Nonjatta Exclusive Bottling

Karuizawa 1996/2013, 16yo 1st Nonjatta Exclusive Bottling. This is the first in a series of Japanese whiskies featuring artwork taken from the last great ukiyoe artist Yoshitoshi’s final series of woodblock prints (1889-1892). The label features a woodblock print from … Continue reading →

www.ralfy.com spends a quality moment with Whisky Review 350 – Springbank Time well spent and not a single drop going to waste!

New blog post; Tasting Caperdonich 17 Year Old Burns Malt 

http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com/blog/post/caperdonich-burns-malt

Longest Serving Whisky Worker Retires After 46 Years

Chivas Brothers’ longest serving employee Alistair McAllister has retired after 46½ years working for the company in Paisley. Alistair joined Chivas Brothers in the Stock Control department in July 1966, when he was just 17 years old. He later moved to the loading bay area, and eventually to the North Bottling Hall, where he spent the last 25 years working as a Forklift Truck Operator.

Reflecting on his time with the company, Alistair (64) said: “The time has flown by, and so much has changed in the last 46 years. When I started the bottling halls were mostly manual, with the ladies who worked there using small plastic hammers to put the tops on the bottles. Today, with huge advances in modern machinery, production is much faster.

“The area where the North Hall sits was just a field when I started. I remember it being built in the 1980s to keep up with demand. In future I think Chivas Brothers will just get busier and busier. We seem to get more orders than ever, from places like China and Azerbaijan that we never even considered 46 years ago. Scotch whisky has really grown internationally. We’re always developing new luxury products for overseas markets.”

Alistair’s colleagues surprised him with a cake, gifts and special visit by St Mirren FC mascot The Paisley Panda on his last day, which delighted the lifelong Saints supporter.

Despite admitting he’ll miss his team, Alistair says he’s looking forward to his retirement, adding: “I’m going to get a new car, enjoy any sunshine we get this summer, and maybe plan a few holidays to places like Spain and Greece. For now there’s lots to do around the house, and I’m a keen gardener, so I will certainly be keeping busy.”

Notes 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.

Top Picks

• Suntory Hibiki 12 Year Japanese Whiskey 750ml Ships as 1.5L (1 bottle limit) ($64.99)
92 points Wine Enthusiast: “With a little water, this golden blended whisky opens up to delicate, nuanced honey and floral aromas and flavors. Finishes smoky, dry and brisk.” (03/2011) K&L Notes: Malt whiskies matured 12 years or longer are perfectly matched with mellow grain whiskies of the same age to create this Hibiki offering. Also included is some whisky from casks formerly used in long-term aging of Japanese plum liqueur, which helps bring out the sweet floral notes on the nose and palate that Suntory whisky is known for. Adding venerable malt aged more than 30 years further brings out the bouquet and adds body to the palate.

• Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $70) ($54.99)
90 points Wine Enthusiast: “Fans of smoky Islay Scotches will enjoy this smoky single malt that’s made at Suntory’s Hakashu Distillery, which is “surrounded by forest at the foot of the Southern Japan Alps.” Despite the delicate aromas of tropical fruit and light peat, the smoke note is considerably amplified on the palate, especially on the resonant finish, where it pushes those dainty fruit tones completely off the map.” (02/2013) K&L Notes: The newest Japanese whisky to hit the U.S. market is Suntory’s Hakushu – known as the “Forest Distillery”. Built in 1973 as a sister distillery to Suntory’s Yamazaki distillery (previously the only Japanese single malt available in the U.S.), the facility is located at a high-elevation site next to the “pristine waters” of the Ojira River, which are used to dilute the whisky itself. Hakushu distillery uses different styles of oak barrel to age their single malt, but mainly Hogshead, which according to the distillery is “suitable to the clear air and cool humid climate.” The 12 year old from Hakushu is lightly peated and very delicate in its flavor profile. The light and fruity style of the whisky is quite similar to the Yamazaki 12, but the smoke really makes up for the lack of richness. Because most of Japan drinks their younger malts with ice and water, the Hakushu is definitely another whisky designed for that purpos e, which may turn off some of the single malt sippers stateside. However, even straight at room temperature, the Hakushu really delivers quality flavors for the price point. Think Talisker, but distinctly less round or supple. So far I’ve really enjoyed tinkering with it in different forms – as a Highball, with an ice cube, and just plain neat. This is one of the most enjoyable bottles I’ve purchased in some time. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• Four Roses K&L Exclusive OBSF (March 2013) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($59.99)
Another barrel of Four Roses OBSF, you ask? Yes! And we’ll keep ordering them as well until the distillery runs out of booze! While we continue to expand our lineup of outstanding single malts, brandies, gins, rums, and tequilas, there hasn’t been too much action on the American whiskey front. There are fewer great Bourbons on the market everyday simply because supplies are low. The most sought-after expressions are highly-limited and almost impossible to get and the dependable ones are getting watered down (unless consumers speak out on their own behalf!). After dealing with this ongoing problem for the past two years, we’ve all become a bit jaded. Yet quietly and without a bunch of fanfare, Four Roses distillery has been trucking along, releasing top-shelf single barrel expressions without end. While the thrill seeker in us may tire of purchasing the same brand over and over again, the Bourbon connoisseur in us knows otherwise. This new barrel of OBSF is full of warming spice, cinnamon and sugar, big vanilla, and a healthy dose of oak on the backend. At full proof, this is perfect cocktail whiskey. It’s also great for sipping on the rocks. It’s simply great booze – period! As a buyer and whiskey super-fan, I’m always on the lookout for something new, but I never get tired of greatness. This barrel of Four Roses is as good as Bourbon gets. As long as it’s available you can bet we’ll be bringing it to our customers, who entrust us with finding them the best. (David Driscoll).

• Four Roses K&L Exclusive OBSQ Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($59.99)
Every now and again we’ll taste a barrel of Four Roses that really showcases what the yeast can bring to a Bourbon in terms of flavor. While we tend to focus on the inherent grains or the mature flavor imparted from the oak aging, the yeast is commonly overlooked as a major factor. This barrel of OBSQ brings the red fruits and the banana to flavortown. The fantastic part of Four Roses’ single barrel program is that it allows us as consumers to select samples from the five different strains of yeast being employed at the distillery. Cherry and banana aren’t flavors usually associated with corn, rye, or toasted new oak – they’re the result of fermentation. Once distilled into a spirit these fruit-filled distillates are filled into charred wood where they sit for a decade before finding their way into a box of samples. When I catch one of these super-fun whiskies crossing my desk, I’ll almost always pull the trigger. There’s something simply delicious about that combination of barrel spice, rich vanilla, and flavor when it comes to Bourbon. Our customers seem to agree, as these barrels have without a doubt been the most popular in our history. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer).

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Oban 18 Year Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $150) – 12 available ($99.99)
91 points Whisky Advocate: “Drier, less toffee and fruit, more dried spice and oak when compared to the standard Oban 14 year old. A beautiful combination of rich, nutty toffee balanced by polished oak, salt, pepper, seaweed, distant smoke, and dried fruit. Somewhat oily in texture. Wonderful depth, too! An improvement on what is already the biggest-selling Diageo single malt scotch in the U.S. Very exciting and dynamic. (Vol. 17, #4, by John Hansell)” K&L Notes: Always tough to find – this is a limited edition bottling for the US only. As the cannister states, “only so much can be made, it is never enough.”

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Sazerac 90-Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($26.99)
The K & L Sazerac Cocktail: 1/2 oz Kubler absinthe, 2 oz of Sazerac Straight Rye, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 2 dashes of Peychaud bitters, Lemon – twist as garnish. Fill an old fashioned glass with ice. Add the absinthe to the glass. Combine all other in a shaker and mix over ice. Discard the ice and absinthe from the old fashioned glass, letting the absinthe coat the glass. Strain shaker ingredients into prepared old fashioned glass. Garnish with the lemon twist.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

With Easter fast approaching, not everyone will want to be showered in chocolate. Some people like a gift with a bit more thought put into it, and with a little touch of class. This is where The Famous Grouse online shop comes in.

Our special Easter offers should have you rolling up and logging on. With every purchase of a 70cl bottle of The Naked Grouse (RRP £29.99), we’ll throw in a complimentary Chrystal’s home-made shortbread. And if your whisky of choice is The Glenturret Highland Single Malt 70cl (RRP £34.99), you can nab yourself a complimentary Glencairn Whisky Glass (RRP £6) and The Famous Grouse Truffle Bar (RRP £2).

These excellent offers are just the tip of our online shopping iceberg. Not only will you find the finest whisky (from The Black Grouse Alpha Edition Blended Scotch 70cl at £29.99 to The Snow Grouse Blended Grain 1L at £24.99) you can get hold of all the accessories that you need to enhance your whisky experience such as our fun Wobble Glass (£4) to the stylish Black Grouse Highball (£3.50).

You could also snap up water jugs, bar trays, coasters, keyrings, travel mugs, cufflinks, torches or pens. Why not go the extra mile by purchasing a hat, sweater, jacket or tie just to show everyone that you are a Grouse guy or gal? And this is the place to go for a bottle with your own personalised label.

For all your online shopping requirements, why not click here now: www.thefamousgrouse.com/online-shop

Dates for your diary:

30 – 31 March: Easter Eggstravaganza & Craft Fayre
6 June: treat your dad to a special day out for Father’s Day
11-14 July: as a holder of the Royal Warrant, we will be at Buckingham Palace for the Coronation Festival
12 August: The Famous Grouse’s official birthday may fall on a Monday, but you still get a chance to help us celebrate in style at Glenturret Distillery on Sunday 11 August

See http://blog.thefamousgrouse.com for full info on all our upcoming events.

A trip to The Famous Grouse Experience isn’t complete without taking in a tour and we have added Challenge Your Senses and Behind The Scenes to an already busy tour roster. For more information on our tour range, go to www.thefamousgrouse.com/visit-us

Cheers,
The Famous Grouse Team
*UK shipping only for alcohol products.

www.ralfy.com takes a trip into the (Irish) mists of time with an antique, but still drinkable stuff with Whiskey Review 349 – Dunvilles VR Irish Whiskey (circa 1930)

Whisky & Water…The Undiluted Truth

BOWMORE® ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY LAUNCHES
– THE BOWMORE WATER PROGRAMME –
FOR KEY ON-TRADE ACCOUNTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Islay, Scotland (March, 2013) – Bowmore®, the first Islay Single Malt whisky, introduces The Bowmore Water Program, a global whisky and water education program featuring hand-crafted water dispensing units and staff trainings to key on-trade accounts around the world. The program has been designed as an educational tool for the trade – and ultimately consumers – that explains what the addition of water does to your Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky and that this practice is not an aberration as some might think, but can bring about another level of sensory (smell, sight) and gustatory (taste) experiences when enjoying Islay’s most balanced single malt. The Bowmore Water Program will roll out spring 2013 in the UK as well as North America and Asia.

The centerpieces of the Bowmore Water Program are the exquisitely hand-crafted water dispensing units, which exude the essence of the Bowmore Distillery and certain to be the showpiece of any bar. In each country, Bowmore will work with their distributors to identify key on-premise accounts that are supporters of Bowmore and determine which water dispenser they would receive (Tier I, II). Once an account has been confirmed, it will receive the Bowmore water dispenser, staff training and tasting and Bowmore’s Water & Whisky Guide that describes in laymen’s terms the chemical reaction and science behind adding water to whisky.

THE WATER DISPENSERS

TIER I: THE WATER SAFE. Hand-crafted and individually numbered, this copper water dispenser is inspired by the great spirit safe that resides within the Still Room of Bowmore Distillery. The Water Safe will ideally sit in a place of prominence behind the bar and will create the ultimate in water dispensing theater.

TIER II: THE TILTER. Hand-made and individually numbered, The Tilter is a more fun and quirky dispenser that tilts on an axis and allows a fine flow of water to be dispensed from one side or small droplets from the other.

Cara Laing, Bowmore Marketing Manager, states: “We are very aware of the great debate surrounding the addition of water twhisky and wanted to tackle this head on. We’ve created these innovative and beautiful water dispensers in the hope that people will discover for themselves their favorite way to enjoy their Single Malt, whether with or without water!”

THE SCIENCE BEHIND WATER & WHISKY
Bowmore is widely acknowledged to be among the most perfectly balanced single malts in the world, striking just the right chord between smoky and sweet. The sometimes polarizing question is: why add water? Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at Morrison Bowmore Distillers along with Cara Laing, Bowmore Marketing Manager, worked together to develop the Bowmore Water Program, not to tell people how they should drink their whisky but to give whisky-lovers an option to explore and let them make up their own minds.

“Bowmore is an amazingly complex and harmonious whisky with an enigmatic flavor spectrum,” says Rachel Barrie. “The spirit takes the drinker on a sensory adventure through sweetness and ocean spices with multiple layers of fruit and smoke. Adding water allows the drinker to unlock Bowmore’s waves of flavor on a journey through its creation. The taste adventure is justbeginning.”
Rachel Barrie, whose scientific background includes a 1st class Honours degree in Chemistry and a stint as a Research Scientist at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, explains that when water is added to whisky, certain physicochemical changes occur in the glass some of which you can see, smell and taste:

? SEE. Viscimetric whorls develop. These are the eddies and threads created when fluids of different viscosities mix.
? SMELL. As the alcohol and water combine, energy is released and the temperature of the liquid is initially increased by about 2º C (an exothermic reaction), allowing the liquid to ‘open up’ and release more of the volatile aromas. By reducing the higher alcohol strength, it enables our sense of smell to work better and the aroma paradoxically seems to increase in intensity when first adding water.
? TASTE. The addition of water and the dropping of the alcohol strength creates a ‘cooling’ effect on the tongue and makes us more receptive to salty and fruity tastes, rather than sweet and spicy. Therefore, we discover different facets of Bowmore’s taste profile than a dram taken neat.

By example, Rachel Barrie has developed tasting notes for Bowmore 12 Years Old, served neat and with 1 part water added to 2 parts whisky. Bowmore 12 Years Old is a complex and rewarding dram that combines Scottish barley, crystal clear water from the Laggan River, rich Islay peat (which both flavors the water and fires the distillery’s kilns) and a 12-year maturation in Bowmore’s legendary No. 1 Vaults.

Bowmore 12YO Neat

NOSE Honey, toffee, lemon

TONGUE A balance of honey, lemon, Islay peat

Bowmore 12 YO With Water

NOSE Fresh citrus and sea-salt, vanilla, almond and orange

TONGUE Peach, pineapple, lemon cream, brine, anise and hints of mint

NOTES:

Bowmore
The best-balanced Islay Single Malt whisky is the perfect reward after your outdoor experience.

Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles, which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky. The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception; we carefully smoke our malt and use skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

 Bowmore’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of our Single Malts. We’re one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery. For our whiskies we draw water from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, and it’s the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of our spirit. The legendary Bowmore No. 1 Vaults is where most of our whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the Vault’s sea-facing wall.

They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours.

It’s this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore Single Malt Whiskies.

The Bowmore domestic product range:

Bowmore Legend
Bowmore 12 Years Old
Bowmore 15 Years Old ‘Darkest’
Bowmore 18 Years Old
Bowmore 25 Years Old

Islay
Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, and is also known as “The Queen of the Hebrides.” Its mild climate and rich peaty soil make it ideal for creating whisky, anddespite having a population of not much more than 3,000, it’s home to no fewer than eight distilleries.