Alasdair Day the owner and re-creator of The Tweeddale (a small batch, limited edition Scotch Whisky) will be in Toronto from Monday 27th May to Saturday 1st June 2013.

His latest and 3rd release of The Tweeddale will be available for the first time outside the UK, as one of the LCBO’s Disttiled Treasures available in their stores from 25th May. Please see the links below for more information from the LCBO.

http://www.vintages.com/index.shtml

http://www.vintages.com/circular/circ_130525pdf.shtml

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=tweeddale&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

As part of Alasdair’s visit he will be conducting in-store tastings and bottling signings. He will also be giving away his copy of Ian Buxton’s revised & updated edition of 101 Whiskies to Try Before you Die. The Tweeddale is included in this edition as one of the 101. Alasdair’s copy bears the following signed inscription from Ian “With best wishes for every success with the launch of The Tweeddale in Canada, 2013. Slainte!”

You will be able to taste The Tweeddale and meet Alasdair on; 

Thursday May 30th 4 – 8 PM – 2946 BLOOR STREET WEST, TORONTO BLOOR & ROYAL YORK (KINGSWAY)

Friday May 31st 4 – 8 PM – 321 CORNWALL DRIVE, OAKVILLE CORNWALL & TRAFALGAR

The Tweeddale was first produced by J&A Davidson established in 1820 in Coldstream in the Scottish Borders. Alasdair’s family connection began when his Great Grandfather, Richard Day joined the business as an office boy when he left school in 1895. in 1923 Richard Day took over the business and continued to trade until the start of World War 2.

There was a 70 year gap from when Richard Day last produced The Tweeddale until May 2010 when his Great Grandson produced his recreation. As part the bottle design for the 3rd release Alasdair has included a sketch of his Great Grandfather and so The Tweeddale Legacy lives on.

May 2013 NEW Outturn Offerings 

Cheshire cat whisky 

Cask No. 1.164                                             $175

Speyside, Spey

‘Sweet manna from heaven’ – toffee, fudge, caramel, Toffifees, vanilla, honey – but more – tea chests, spice racks, aromatic smoke, burnt heather and pencils in a library – we could have sniffed it endlessly. Water opened up the fruit – sherbet, orange zest, peach, strawberry, tinned grapes, sweet sap and light smoke – panellists grinning like Cheshire cats. The sweet, oaky palate had tablet, fudge and bread dough – by an open fire; but it also had a darker side – woody, earthy, drying, with sticky cassis and treacle. Water brightened it up – Starbursts, Skittles and spicy Advocaat. From the distillery always directed by John or George.

Drinking tip: It needs time – one for a long journey perhaps – or for an evening with no pressure

Colour: Polished gold                                 Date distilled: October 1985

Cask: Refill hogshead                                 Alcohol: 52.1%

Age: 27 years                                               USA allocation: 60 bottles

The Camping Trip 

Cask No. 3.188                                             $115

Islay

Remember the last time you were camping? The smell of the dew touched grass in the morning a distant memory as the sweat, deep heat and old tent pierce your nostrils. An oily smoked fish caught earlier in the day mixes with the aroma of roasting marshmallows and ash. The barbecued green peppers, mushrooms and lemon dressing on the palate make way for heat and lavender. When the water is added, the campfire smoke intensifies, the petrol used to light the fire maybe wasn’t such a good idea as it catches the nose, but that won’t retract from the comforting beach aromas and the budget chocolate bar you’ve been sitting on all day.

Drinking tip: On a camping trip

Colour: New Engine Oil                              Date distilled: September 1997

Cask: Refill butt                                            Alcohol: 58.8%

Age: 14 years                                               USA allocation: 120 bottles

Superb sweet and salty symbiosis 

Cask No. 27.100                                           $110

Campbeltown

The nose took us places – a harbour wall (fish boxes, lobster pots) – an old bike shed – a coal shed (coal-sacks, newspaper) – a smoke-house (fish again) – a sandy beach – a tennis locker – a Greek seaside taverna (salted pistachios, ouzo, lemons, fish again, well-done loaves from a wood-fired oven); quite a journey! The palate presented a superb sweet and salty symbiosis and a warm, mellow mouth impact – wonderful sweetness (sugared almonds and peanuts, liquorice allsorts, popcorn); yet muscular, with the nippy heat of aniseed, mustard and chilli. Even the fishiness was sweet (sweet-cured herrings, sweet smoky barbecued fish). From the quintessential Campbeltown distillery.

Drinking tip: While sailing around the Greek islands, of course! Or with food. Or with friends, singing ‘Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whisky…’

Colour: Pale moon gold                             Date distilled: March 2000

Cask: Refill barrel                                        Alcohol: 52.4%

Age: 12 years                                               USA allocation: 90 bottles 

Flip-flops up a chimney 

Cask No. 33.120                                           $85

Islay

Quite a nose! We found delicate smoke wafting from snuffed candles, mint humbugs, char-grilled prawns, hessian sacks, sandy beaches, maple-cured bacon, sherbet, pencil boxes, vanilla pods and recently washed hospital floors. Water brought apples, plums and red grapes, liquorice, Murray Mints and flip-flops up a chimney. The unreduced palate was very nicely layered and constructed, with tar, tobacco, stir-fried seaweed, anise, liquorice, muscovado sugar and Bendicks dark chocolate mints. The reduced palate – a fabulous balancing act between sweet and smoky – gob-stoppers, smoke-flavoured Edinburgh Rock, aniseed balls, wood ash and hints of roasted meats. From LVMH’s heavenly little corner of Islay.

Drinking tip: After dinner – perhaps with a cigar

Colour: Pale sand gold                              Date distilled: September 2003

Cask: First-fill barrel                                     Alcohol: 58.5%

Age: 8 years                                                 USA allocation: 72 bottles 

The palate gets a Ping! 

Cask No. G1.9                                              $150

Grain

The nose was attractive and complex – sweet (butterscotch, flapjacks, golden syrup, corn candies, vanilla ice-cream) with good orange zestiness (marmalade on toast, dark chocolate orange) and leafy perfumes (geranium, eucalyptus, tea-tree). Our palate were pinged to attention by ‘wake up the senses’ ginger snaps and chilli heat – also golden syrup on toast, caramel, toffee, honey waffles, bourbon, root beer and tomato leaf. Water brought out toffee popcorn, honey-glazed chicken wings and clove-studded baked ham on the nose; the palate became more agreeable and easy, with vanilla and banana barbecued in brown sugar and cinnamon. The distillery’s neighbour is Hearts F. C.

Drinking tip: A summer afternoon or evening with a barbeque – could even take ice

Colour: Burnished oak                                Date distilled: December 1990

Cask: Refill hogshead                                 Alcohol: 62.8%

Age: 21 years                                               USA allocation: 60 bottles

 Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/

A Taste from the Past – Grant’s Best Procurable 12 Years Old 

Hi everyone,

Grant’s Best Procurable was our premium offering until 1973 when its name changed to Grant’s Royal. It didn’t always carry an age statement like the bottle I am about to taste but looking at our archive records, it was always matured for around 12 years (if not at least 12 years).

Defining the bottling year…(please clock on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK 

Kind regards,

Ludo

www.ralfy.com goes into detail about micro-distilleries with Whisky Review 362 (5/7) – Still Waters Whisky & small distilleries

Chivas Toasts Opening Night at Cannes as one of the Official Suppliers to The Great Gatsby Film Premiere Party

Chivas Regal 25, the world’s original luxury whisky, has today announced its coveted position as one of the official suppliers to The Great Gatsby film premiere party on the Opening Night of the 66th Festival de Cannes. Marking a fifth consecutive year as official sponsor to the festival itself, Chivas Regal 25 has a heritage of luxury and exclusivity, making it the perfect drink to toast the silver screen legends and the glamour of the world’s most prestigious film festival.  To celebrate the launch of The Great Gatsby at the exclusive Cannes film premiere party, Chivas will serve a bespoke menu of themed cocktails, named after the well-known characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic story. Celebrating the opening of the 66th Festival de Cannes, the event is set to be the pinnacle of the festival program and a sensational night of 1920s glamour.

In addition to this event during the festival, Chivas will also host more than 75 VIPs from around the world as part of a unique 24-hour VIP experience that celebrates the legendary glamour of Cannes and Chivas Regal 25. Guests will enjoy a night at the iconic Grand Hyatt Cannes Hôtel Martinez, a red carpet makeover at the Chivas Regal Salon 25, a view of Cannes from the harbour aboard the Chivas 25 Yacht as well as entertainment at Bar 1909 in Chivas House on the legendary Croisette. Guests will also be treated to a private dining experience at two Michelin starred La Palme d’Or where they will enjoy a bespoke tasting menu, pairing Chivas cocktails with the finest seasonal French Cuisine, created by Chivas Global Brand Ambassador Max Warner and chef Christian Sinicropi.

James Slack, Brand Director, Chivas Regal said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be part of The Great Gatsby film premiere party at Festival de Cannes as part of our whole program. Our Global Brand Ambassador, Max Warner, has been working to create a bespoke menu of Gatsby-themed cocktails that we’ll serve at the party in honour of this event. As a brand that was born in the time of Gatsby, it is fitting for us to celebrate this look back at a time with the cast of this iconic film. This should be another legendary year at the festival and we are excited to be part of it again.”

Chivas Regal 25 – the pinnacle of the Chivas range – pays homage to the world’s first-ever luxury whisky, the original Chivas Regal blend, shipped from Scotland to New York in 1909. Enjoyed today by elite tastemakers around the globe, it is a unique blend of the finest whiskies, aged for at least a quarter of a century.

Dating back to the 1940s, Festival de Cannes is today considered the most iconic and glamorous film festival in the world.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, in association with A&E Television, a Bazmark/Red Wagon Entertainment Production, a Film by Baz Luhrmann, “The Great Gatsby.”  The film will be distributed in 3D and 2D by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

Notes

Chivas Regal is now in its fifth year as official partner of the Festival de Cannes – the most exclusive and celebrated international film festival.

About Chivas Regal

Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.8 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.

To celebrate its fifth year as official partner of the Festival de Cannes, on the 18th May Chivas Regal will launch the world’s first website to take users on a fully interactive virtual VIP journey through the world’s most prestigious film festival. To experience the Legend of Cannes, from the 18th May guests can visit www.chivas.com/cannes

The 150^th Victoria Highland Games Association

***Whisky School***

This past weekend Whisky Intelligence was afforded the opportunity to once again help run the Whisky School at the 150^th Victoria Highland Games Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th of May in Victoria, British Columbia. As an obvious whisky enthusiast this was not something to let slip by, a whisky school held in a tent in the midst of a Highland Games; magic!

HRH the Duke of York was the Chieftain of the Games and was very much in evidence along with his RCMP close protection detail. Some 25,000 people attended the Games over the course of the weekend which was a record crowd. The Whisky School was located in a prime central location with lots of foot traffic.

While the weather was quite good for an outdoor event Saturday it certainly leaned towards the traditional Scottish model (umbrellas part of the day and slightly chilly), Sunday followed the west coast model and was warm and sunny.

Before the action....

The Whisky School was laid out into three classes a day with 44 attendees in each class with a really good variety of whiskies were presented; here are the official class descriptions;

1) Saturday May 18th 12-1:00 PM. The Whyte and Mackay Blending Seminar with J. Wheelock  

Want to impress your friends at parties? Want to improve your resume? How about… sampling some excellent Whiskies while trying your hand at being a Master Blender? The Whyte and Mackay Blending Seminar will be conducted by ambassador J. Wheelock and the lucky attendees will nose and sample 5 of the component Whiskies in the Whyte and Mackay Special and then actually blend them together. Participants will then go on to compare with their neighbours as to how well they did compared to the control sample of Whyte and Mackay Special Blend. Seats are limited; don’t miss your chance to have the best bragging rights in town. P.S. We’re just kidding about the resume thing. This only counts as FUN.” (Note: the Saturday & Sunday seminars are identical in format).  

2) Saturday May 18th 1:45-2:45 PM. Scotch & Irish Whisk(e)y 101 with Graeme Macaloney PhD. 

Looking to understand how Scotch & Irish whiskies are made, where their flavours come from, and taste the final product? This Scotch & Irish Whisky 101 tasting session will encompass classic whiskies including blended Scotch, triple distilled Irish whisky, a Speyside single malt and Island Scotch single malts from Edrington and Beam Global. A Scotsman and university trained in fermentation, Graeme Macaloney will take you through an organoleptic tasting experience of these ‘old-country’ whiskies and how they are made. 

3) Saturday May 18th 3:30-4:30 PM.  Around The World in Six Whiskies with Roberto Roberti  

Strap yourselves in for a round the world journey where ambassador Roberto Roberti will show case some exceptional award winning whiskies from a variety of countries. This class will be conducted so that the attendees will not know which whisky is which until revealed by Roberto. Test your skills and see if you can determine from where each whisky is from!  

4) Sunday May 19th 12-1:00 PM. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society with Colin Southcombe  

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the largest private whisky club in the world and it has finally arrived in British Columbia! Society whiskies are by their very nature unique, extremely limited and quite deliciously varied. Colin Southcombe will be leading this class and the single malts being poured will be a revelation! 

5) Sunday May 19th 1:45-2:45 PM. The Independents with Roberto Roberti  

Ambassador Roberto Roberti has reached into his magnificent bag of whiskies to formulate the lineup for this class which will feature two of Scotland’s most famous independent bottlers including some award winning blends, some single cask limited editions and two whiskies from a distillery whose name was only recent revealed.  

6) Sunday May 19th 3:30-4:30 PM. The Whyte and Mackay Blending Seminar with J. Wheelock  

Want to impress your friends at parties? Want to improve your resume? How about… sampling some excellent Whiskies while trying your hand at being a Master Blender? The Whyte and Mackay Blending Seminar will be conducted by ambassador J. Wheelock and the lucky attendees will nose and sample 5 of the component Whiskies in the Whyte and Mackay Special and then actually blend them together. Participants will then go on to compare with their neighbours as to how well they did compared to the control sample of Whyte and Mackay Special Blend. Seats are limited; don’t miss your chance to have the best bragging rights in town. P.S. We’re just kidding about the resume thing. This only counts as FUN.” (Note: the Saturday & Sunday seminars are identical in format). 

And obviously a condition of entry, as well as being of legal age, was that guests did not drink and drive.

Looking in....

The Whisky School volunteers were from the Victoria chapter of the Companions of the Quaich which has chapters all across Canada and many of them have years of experience volunteering at the Victoria Whisky Festival; they can turn over a class and pour a whole set of samples in minutes.

We volunteers had a myriad of duties that ran the gambit from setting up the tent on the Friday before the event, laying out the tasting mats and glasses, selling tickets for the classes (but not on the day of the event, local liquor regulations forbid that; the mind boggles at the stupidity of it but seriously who comes up with maddening petty regulations?) to pouring the samples, introducing the speakers and checking in the lucky ticket holders to their respective classes. The majority of tickets were sold prior to the weekend and included access to the Highland Games for the day of the ticket so the combination of the Highland Games ticket and the Whisky School ticket provided very good value.

"No Mom, I don't want to leave Whisky School!"

While the classes were in session there was always a steady stream of people inquiring about the Whisky School or eagerly buying engraved Glencairn glasses. There were also lots of people who were greatly dismayed that they couldn’t buy tickets since they had arrived too late; the few remaining tickets for Sunday classes all sold in a short while on Saturday.

Anne and Jim of the VIP hospitality tent sent two of their volunteers to attend a class and they later reported that while the volunteers enjoyed the class their participation in the class had reduced their operational effectiveness in the hospitality tent to zero (for a period)!

When there was an infrequent quite moment there was a chance to wander through the Games to take in all the vendors and the various events from the sheep dogs at work to the massed bands to the heavy events, dance competitions or even a visit the VIP hospitality tent for a cup of tea or a snack. (They seemed to have forgiven us for previous damage done to their volunteers). If more exotic fare was desired then there was a good selection of food trucks and vendors on site. WI was over joyed to find Island Highlander Company’s stand and their excellent Sticky Toffee Pudding(s); two were purchased for quite enjoyment later. Scottish meat pies and HP Sauce are a Whisky School tradition however they must be purchased early since the vendors always run out. Another perk was an occasional dram found its way into a volunteers glass…

Another amusement enjoyed by the Whisky School volunteers was watching the RCMP close protection detail trying to keep up with HRH the Duke of York and he steamed around the Games at full tilt. Happily he didn’t visit the Whisky School looking for a seat since the Whisky School was sold out…

WI managed to secure tickets to J. Wheelock’s The Whyte & MacKay Blending Seminar on Saturday which focused on the constituent malts that make up that blend with a really nice dram of Flaming Heart from Compass Box thrown in for variety.

On Sunday the class of choice was the Scotch Malt Whisky Society class led by Colin Southcombe with 8 very nice samples (121.54 Don’t worry about a thing…, 26.87 Passion-fruit scented candles, 7.77 Elegant ladies taking tea, 16.32 Leather armchairs and old wardrobes, 105.19 ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, 76.92 Ticks all the boxes, 4.168 Gunpowder, treason and plot and 53.162 The Happiness Machine).

Pretty whisky.....and Colin

Roberto, Graeme,  J. and Colin did an excellent job of presenting while pipe bands played just across the field although at times it was best just best to sit back and enjoy your dram and listen to the pipe music. At one point there was even a little cannon fire but none of these distracted from the fine whiskies on offer.

All in all the experience volunteering at the 150^th Victoria Highland Games Whisky School was very enjoyable experience and the team did a superb job of running the school and helping to educate many people in the joys of whisky. The proceeds from the Whisky School support the Victoria Highland Games Association. Thanks to Bev, Glenn, Duncan, Frank, Ann Marie, Clare, Heather, Al, Maggie Warren and Greg for their hard work and sense of humour! Tickets for the 2014 Whisky School will be available on the Victoria Highland Games Association in late March or early April. Don’t miss out!

J. leading the action...

Canadian Whisky Twitter Tasting and Book Review

The Grand Finale of #DavinTT 

A month of discussing Davin de Kergommeaux’s Canadian whisky book on Twitter will wrap up on Sunday May 26, at 3:00 eastern time. Please join us for the final installment of #DavinTT on Twitter.

This week we’ll be discussing Chapters 22 through 25 of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert while we sip a wee dram of Canadian whisky. If you want to join in, any Canadian whisky will do. However, this week we will discuss Highwood, Hiram Walker, Forty Creek, and Valleyfield distilleries so if you have a whisky from one of these distilleries on hand, all the better.

Go to #DavinTT on Twitter at 3:00 eastern time, Sunday and join in the discussion, add your comments, interact with author, Davin de Kergommeaux, and discuss a Canadian whisky you are tasting.

We invite bloggers to blog about the book, the experience, the whiskies and/or Davin. Let the fun begin!

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me, @WhiskyLassie on twitter.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert is available at Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, and many other fine bookstores, or on-line at Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks Bunnahabhain BBR 1990 21yo Cask 19

Bunnahabhain BBR 1990 21yo Cask 19

46% abv

£79.00 inc vat £65.83 ex vat

‘…A big, robust sherry cask Bunnahabhain…’

Best regards,

Loch Fyne Whiskies

david@lfw.co.uk

www.ralfy.com visits a Canadian distiller and finds out about a unique feature in the warehouse with Whisky Review 363 (4/7) – John’s Canadian Oak casks at 40 Creek Distillery

ISLAY FESTIVAL OF MALTS & MUSIC – SPECIAL FESTIVAL BOTTLINGS ANNOUNCED FOR CAOL ILA AND LAGAVULIN

by Pat Roberts

To celebrate this year’s Islay Festival of Malts & Music, Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries have again announced exclusive Festival bottlings for visitors to the distilleries.

18-year old Lagavulin from European Oak

The LAGAVULIN™ 2013 special festival bottling, from whisky distilled in 1995, has been aged in ex European Oak Sherry Butts, and was personally selected by Lagavulin warehouseman Iain McArthur.

Feis 2013 Special Bottlings – Lagavulin

Triple-matured Caol Ila

This year’s CAOL ILA™ special festival bottling  is a little special and unusual, explains distillery manager Billy Stitchell, who personally selected the whisky:

“Spirit distilled in 1998 has been triple-cask matured. For 12 years it rested in a combination of Refill Butts, Hogsheads and Barrels. The vatted whisky was then allowed to mature for several months in active hogshead casks to impart a spicy/oaky note to the existing delicate Caol Ila smoke. Finally it was treated to a final gentle maturation in European oak.”

Feis 2013 Special Bottlings Caol Ila

Volumes and prices

Bottles will be on sale to individual visitors at the distilleries priced  at £99. The Lagavulin festival bottling goes on sale at the distillery at 10:00 am on Saturday 25 May (Lagavulin open day); the Caol Ila bottling goes on sale at 10:00 am at the distillery on Monday 27 May –  in both cases with an allocation of two bottles per customer.

Each release has been bottled at natural cask strength and comes in limited editions of 3,000  individually-numbered bottles.

Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s Head of Whisky Outreach, commented:

“We are again delighted to have two exceptional whiskies from Lagavulin and Caol Ila which we have bottled for the enjoyment of those visitors who come to celebrate Islay’s great whiskies and whisky-making traditions with us during the Fèis.

“In the past our special single-cask Festival bottlings have sold out very rapidly, leading to disappointment for some visitors, and unfortunately allowing others to profit from their misfortune by re-selling bottles at inflated prices. This was never our intention.

“So this year we are releasing slightly more generous volumes without compromising the quality of our offering. We hope this  will enable all Fèis visitors who want to buy a bottle as a memento of of their visit to do so.”

Feis 2013 Special Bottlings x2

NOTES

The 2013 Fèis Ìle (Islay Festival) runs from 24 May to 1 June.

See also http://www.malts.com/ and http://www.discovering-distilleries.com/