An informative and humorous conversation between Master Distillery Mike Nicolson and Whisky enthusiast Barry Dunner discussing the origins of blended Scotch Whiskies. Johnnie Walker Double Black etc.
Master Distiller Mike Nicolson and Barry Dunner have an entertaining and humorous conversation discussing scotch malt whisky – “drinking and occasion”
Master Distiller Mike Nicolson addresses the Malt Whisky/Salt issue, in a user friendly and humorous style.
July 2013 will see the release of a new whisky in to the UK market. Oak Cask Distribution LTD, set up by 2 young entrepreneurs plan to shock the whisky stereotype in the UK and introduce an Australian Single Malt from Tasmania.
Old Hobart distillery is one of the most southern distilleries in the world and is where Overeem Single Malt Whisky is made; I say ‘made’ but this word is far to bish, bash, bosh for head distiller and owner Casey Overeem, a man who is a perfectionist in every sense of the word. You can really taste this with every dram of his fine hand-crafted single malt selection.
Overeem whisky is crafted in Tasmania, a wonderland that is home to the near perfect whisky making conditions, rivalling anywhere in the world. The finest barley, the purest water and temperate climate which helps Overeem whisky mature that bit quicker than most.
Casey has developed 4 different products for his current collection with Blend to be added in 2016:
Since coming on to the whisky scene in 2011 the Overeem range has won acclaim from all quarters including Jim Murray and the Malt Whisky Society of Australia (MWSoA) and with just 8,000 bottles being produced each year by this boutique distillery, Overeem is one of the most sought after and exclusive whiskies in the world.
With the introduction of world whiskies ever increasing on the UK market it’s about time horizons are broadened and this fantastic Aussie dram is given the opportunity to pleasure the pallets of the UK’s whisky drinkers.
The Way to Get Intelligent About Whisky
FindTheBest, a Santa Barbara start-up website that delivers thousands of comparisons across 9 different topics, enables whisky lovers and enthusiasts a means to find and compare hundreds of whiskies and scotches.
The whisky comparison has a myriad of tools that allow the user to easily find what he is looking for–whether he is looking for a list of only the best blended scotches or wants to compare a few specific whiskies side-by-side. From the search result page which has 377 whiskies in its database, one has various options: he can filter the search from highest to lowest by price, ABV, or Smart Rating–an aggregate score based off of five whisky-rating sources: the Beverage Testing Institute, the International Wine and Spirits Competition, the LA Whiskey Society, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Wine Enthusiast’s Magazine.
Other filter options include tasting notes, years aged, distillery, and region. After one has narrowed down his search to the top four or five whiskies of his preference, he can compare them side-by-side to see how these whiskies’ tasting notes, nose, finish, and palate differ. This site can be used for people looking for help in purchasing their next whisky or others who are simply curious of how the top Irish whiskey brands differ and relate.
So whether you need assistance in your next purchase or you want to compare some of your favorite whiskies in an objective, data-driven fashion, this is the site for you. This comparison tool does not make the choice for you; rather, it gives you all of the tools and information you need to make an informed decision. Try out the widget below to see how it works:
Tropical Bounty for the Senses
Dreaming of exotic lands? Close your eyes, picture dazzling light on limpid water. Nearby, fruit trees are heavy with fragrance… We’ve got some lush, tropical favourites to take you there at first sip!
1) 73.56 Pineapple, pear and a perfume pucker
20yo Refill ex-bourbon barrel, £66.90
14 available… Buy 
2) 35.59 Arabian Nights
39yo Refill ex-bourbon hogshead, £228.00
27 available… Buy
3) 85.26 Fragrant perfumes and deeper resonances
28yo Refill ex-bourbon hogshead, £91.90
36 available… Buy
4) 77.28 Tropical Nights
25yo New charred oak 2nd fill hogshead, £85.00
6 available… Buy
5) 73.42 The Diva’s Dressing Room
28yo Refill ex-sherry butt, £78.20
11 available… Buy
JUNE OFFERS: Pirates’ Private Property
June TRIO: 7.85, 35.90 & 3.207 for only £169
44 available… Buy
JunePAIR: 30.76 & 3.207 for only £115
51 available… Buy
June CASE Offer:
3.207, 64.44, 1.173, 121.60, 9.71 & 76.104 for only £329
8 available… Buy
*3.207 is exclusive to our June offers
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.
Our Time Capsule
Hi everyone,
A lovely event took place in Dufftown last week as Peter Gordon, great-great-grandson of our founder, hosted a small group of employees and friends to witness a Time Capsule being sealed in our new Family Home in Dufftown.
The Time Capsule was filled with a ‘Moment in Time’ photo album of pictures taken by our…(to read the remainder of the article please click on the link below)…
Kind regards,
Ludo
Loch Fyne Whiskies ‘New in Stock: Kilkerran WIP 5 Sherry Wood’
Kilkerran Work in Progress 5 Sherry Wood 46%abv
£34.00 inc vat – £28.33 ex vat
From Glengyle Distillery, Campbeltown. Limited to 9000 bottles. Official Tasting Notes: Color: Amber Nose: Who’s chocolate orange is this? Dark chocolate, marzipan, honey covered dates and strawberries build up to a very rich and sweet ginger preserve. A very complex nose that doesn’t stop developing in the glass. Palate: The honey covered dates return on the palate mixed with sultanas and black treacle fudge. This dram is as wholesome and tasty as a warm, toasted cinnamon and raisin bagel with real butter melting on top. Finish: Medium, well balanced and round finish, presence of dark chocolate
Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk
Glen Keith Distillery Re-Opened by Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead Msp as Chivas Brothers Expansion Continues
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment Richard Lochhead MSP officially re-opened the Chivas Brothers-owned Glen Keith distillery today.
The distillery has been ‘silent’ since 1999, but it was announced in 2012 that it would re-open to help the company continue to meet increasing worldwide demand for its luxury Scotch whiskies, which include world-renowned blends Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s and Royal Salute.
The Glen Keith re-opening is just one phase in a continued programme of investment for Chivas Brothers. The company has committed £40 million annual capital expenditure on its operations.
Other recent major investments have included the £10 million expansion of The Glenlivet Distillery in 2010, increasing its distillation capacity by 75%. In 2012 expansion work at Glenallachie, Longmorn, Glentauchers and Tormore distilleries – in addition to the Glen Keith project – increased the company’s malt distillation capacity by a further 25%, while in Paisley it opened a new super-premium bottling hall, focused on the hand-packaging of its highest-value expressions.
This programme of investment will culminate in the building of a brand new distillery at Carron on the River Spey, to open in 2014. Planning permission for the project was granted by Moray Council in April this year.
Declaring Glen Keith distillery officially open today, Mr Lochhead, who is also MSP for Moray, said: “The Scotch whisky industry is one of Scotland’s great success stories with exports hitting a record £4.3 billion in 2012. It also provides valuable jobs across rural Scotland, which in turn supports communities, particularly in Speyside where we have a concentration of distilleries. There are of course knock on benefits for other industry sectors such as tourism. Whisky can act as a draw for visitors curious to see where their favourite tipple is made, and for the local manufacturing sector who provide the fabrication skills for the whisky industry to continue to thrive.
“I do enjoy a wee dram myself and I’m always happy to see a local distillery like Glen Keith being brought back to life – it’s a great boost to the local area. This is a positive step which will play an important part in delivery of even greater success for Chivas Brothers and help them to market themselves to the world. I wish them every success.”
Christian Porta, Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO, said: “It is wonderful to see this distillery re-opened and producing spirit once again. The fact that we are re-opening a silent distillery, and are soon to build a brand-new distillery in the region, shows just how strong the demand for our luxury Scotch whiskies is.
“With our extensive inventory of more than six million casks, and this new increased distilling capacity, we are well placed to continue to meet this demand, safeguarding the future of our award-winning brands for decades to come. The sweet, fruity spirit produced at Glen Keith, will be aged in oak casks and used in the Chivas Regal and Royal Salute blends, as it was in the past.”
Prior to re-opening, the distillery underwent a major upgrade, resulting in a 50% greater malt distillation capacity. Work included the installation of new malt storage facilities, and a new mash-house and tun-room, which accommodates the new mash tun along with six additional washbacks, bringing the total to 15. The distillery’s existing six still were also refurbished.
Environmental improvements at Glen Keith will make this distillery one of the company’s most energy efficient, with the heat generated during distillation being recycled within the process. The latest generation of still thermo compression systems has for the first time been incorporated into both wash and spirit distillations. This gives a further energy usage reduction of 15% compared to Chivas Brothers’ current most efficient distillery.
The investment at Glen Keith has already brought real benefits to the Speyside business community with a number of local contractors involved in the upgrade. Building work was undertaken by A.D. Walker of Banff, structural steel work by W.R. Simmers of Keith, and the distillery’s new wooden washbacks were built and installed by Joseph Brown Vats of Dufftown. Stills were refurbished by Forsyth Group of Rothes, while malt and grist handling was carried out by Clark & Sutherland in Keith.
Two companies from just outside Keith – L.H. Stainless and Advanced Electrics – carried out stainless steel piping and tanks installation and electrical works respectively, while C&A Innes of Keith upgraded the distillery’s water supply. Other local contractors at Glen Keith included G&A Construction of Dufftown, McKerron & Milne roofwork and McCormack’s scaffolding of Rothes, D Paterson steelwork of Elgin, and I Fraser & Sons electrical of Rothes. The new mash tun was constructed by Briggs of Burton.
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
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.
RAFT OF AWARD WINS FOR CHIVAS BROTHERS’ WHISKIES AT PRESTIGIOUS TASTING COMPETITIONS
Chivas Brothers’ portfolio of Scotch whisky brands has scooped a total of 24 gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) and The Scotch Whisky Masters.
The Glenlivet, the No. 2 Scotch malt whisky brand in the world, paved the way for Chivas Brothers with a resounding total of 12 gold medals received across the two competitions, including ‘Best in Class’ for its 18 Year Old bottle as well as gold medals for its Master Distiller’s Reserve, Nadurra 16 Year Old, Excellence, 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old, 21 Year Old, 21 Year Old Archive and XXV expressions.
There was further success for the malts portfolio with Strathisla receiving the coveted Master medal at The Scotch Whisky Masters and Aberlour winning gold medals for its 12 Year Old and A’bunadh in the ISC and The Scotch Whisky Masters respectively.
Chivas Brothers’ blends also triumphed at the ISC with Ballantine’s Finest, Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, Ballantine’s 30 Year Old, Chivas 18 Year Old and Royal Salute 21 Year Old each receiving a gold medal at the competition. Ballantine’s was awarded a further two gold medals for its 12 Year Old and Limited expression at The Scotch Whisky Masters.
Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers commented: “We are proud to see that our portfolio of premium Scotch whiskies has received top awards from this year’s edition of the ISC and The Scotch Whisky Masters. The judges have once again acknowledged the consistent high quality of our brands and the expertise and dedication of our master distiller and blenders.”
In addition to their successes at the ISC and The Scotch Whisky Masters, Aberlour A’bunadh and The Glenlivet XXV also ranked top in two out of three categories at the 14th edition of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, celebrated in Scotland at the beginning of May.
FULL RESULTS
ISC
Gold
The Glenlivet 18 YO Best in Class
The Glenlivet 12 YO
The Glenlivet 15 YO French Oak Reserve
The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 YO
The Glenlivet 21 YO Archive
The Glenlivet XXV
The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve
Aberlour 12 YO Double Cask Matured
Ballantine’s Finest
Ballantine’s 17 YO
Ballantine’s 30 YO
Chivas 18 YO
Royal Salute 21 YO
Royal Salute The Hundred Cask Selection
The Scotch Whisky Masters
Master
Strathisla 12 YO
The Glenlivet 15 YO French Oak Reserve
Gold
Single malts Speyside <12yr
The Glenlivet 12 YO
The Glenlivet Excellence 12YO
Speyside <18yr
Speyside Aberlour 16 YO Double Cask Matured
Speyside < 25yr
The Glenlivet 21 YO Archive
Speyside 25+ yr
The Glenlivet XXV
Speyside Special Editions
The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve
Ballantine’s 12 YO
Ballantine’s Limited
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Best 12 Year Old and Under
Aberlour A’bunadh
Best 21 Year Old and Over
The Glenlivet XXV
NOTES
About the International Spirits Challenge
Now in its 18th year, the ISC is an internationally recognised event for the promotion of spirits of the higest calibre. With over 1,000 entries from 70 countries, it is indeed a remarkable achievement for Chivas Brothers to win these awards.
About The Scotch Whisky Masters
The Spirits Masters series has fast become one of the most respected and high-profile blind tasting competitions in the industry, drawing in entries from across the world. All judges are completely independent, ensuring a wholly unbiased evaluation of the spirits involved.
ABOUT CHIVAS BROTHERS
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.
