THREE SHIPS IS LIQUID GOLD

Re-affirming that South African whiskies are acknowledged as some of the best in the world, the Three Ships whisky fleet is celebrating two gold medals received at the 2013 International Wine and Spirits Competition. The Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old took Gold Outstanding – the highest accolade bestowed on a whisky – while the limited-edition Three Ships 10 year old single malt received gold, only months after the Three Ships Premium Select was awarded gold and best in class at the 2013 International Spirits Challenge in London and the Three Ships 10 year old Three Ships single malt took gold at the 2013 San Francisco Spirits Competition

The two whiskies, produced at the James Sedgwick Distillery situated in the Boland town of Wellington, are crafted by Andy Watts, master distiller of more than 22 years.

The Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old is a blend of selected South African and Scotch whiskies, combining heavily peated malted barley and grain, and matured for five years in American oak. The whisky is robust, aromatic and unpretentious with a full peaty character on the palate leading to an extended warm finish.

The Three Ships 10 Year Old single malt is aged for the full ten years in American oak of different ages with older smaller wood contributing to the whisky’s smoothness and slight sweetness.  It is a well-rounded whisky with a hint of peat and estery notes that add a slightly sweet fragrance hinting of dried fruit and fudge.

The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select is available from leading liquor outlets for about R115 whilst you will be lucky if you can get your hands on the Three Ships 10 year old as there are very few left of the 8000 bottles originally produced. It retails for about R260.

CANADIAN WHISKY: THE PORTABLE EXPERT ON SHORT LIST FOR TASTE CANADA BOOK AWARDS

From 64 nominees, Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert has been included on the short list for the 2013 Taste Canada Food Writing Awards. Canadian Whisky has been nominated as in the category of culinary narratives. Winners will be announced at an award ceremony and gala reception on Monday, 4th November, at the Arcadian Court in Toronto.

Taste Canada is delighted to announce that the CBC has joined the 2013 awards as a media sponsor. Stefano Faita of CBC TV’s In The Kitchen will host the November 4th gala, and the CBC will cover the awards, on all of its platforms.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert was written by Davin de Kergommeaux, and is published by McClelland & Stewart. The book takes readers on a pan-Canadian journey from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, through the first systematic presentation of Canadian whisky: how it’s made, who makes it, why it tastes the way it does, its history, and the rich, centuries-old folklore surrounding it. The jury commented that the book is “Fascinating to read;” and “Very well researched and presented.”

This nomination follows of the book’s third place win at the Gourmand Awards in Paris, France in March, and first place in San Francisco at the International Association of Culinary Professionals book awards in April.

Other Taste Canada nominees on the Culinary Narrative short list include French Kids Eat Everything (And Yours Can Too) by Karen Le Billon, published by HarperCollins, and Menu Confidential: Conquer the Calories, Sodium and Fat Hiding in the Foods You Love by Megan Ogilvie, also published by HarperCollins Publishers.

CBC Radio West Interview with Davin

August Outturn Offerings 

Cask No. 37.51                                              $130 

The saloon of a classic yacht

Speyside, Spey

Gorgeous colour and an immediate impact of sherry-related aromas: dried fruits, figs macerated in dark rum, strong black tea, crème caramel, polished oak and waxed leather – the image of a classic yacht sprang to mind. The taste is bitter-sweet, with burnt salt taffy and ginger cake, but also herbal and spicy notes (tarragon and mouth snuff) and chilli chocolate in the long finish. Immediate sulphur notes with water, but these soon give way to crème brulée, fruit cake, dried figs and old furniture. Still bitter-sweet to taste (burnt raisins, caramel); at once cooling and warming, with a hint of blackcurrant in the finish. The distillery was built by a very large man named John Smith.

Drinking tip: A reward for the crew who won the race

Colour: Deep mahogany, with rosewood lights               Date distilled: March 1993

Cask: First-fill Sherry butt                                         Alcohol: 60.0%

Age: 18 years                                                          USA allocation: 120 bottles

Cask No. 4.164                                    $100

Muddy Tractor 

Highland, Island

Rich Madagascan vanilla with lemon barley to start on the nose. On the first sip of spirit, the panel’s composure was tested. There was an immediate welling up of eyes. The sensation was akin to sucking on full strength peppermint sweets. An old mud covered tractor remembered one of the panellists. An unexpected combination of flavours mingled favourably- lapsang souchong tea and chilli chocolate. With water the Panel got recently extinguished camp fires and a heather covered field on a hot summer’s day interspersed with wild garlic. The mouth had us chewing on smoked bacon to start, then were sucking on dusty boiled lemon sweets for our dessert.

Time to drink: Camping trip in late September

Colour: Honey over porridge                             Date distilled: June 2000

Cask: First-fill barrel                             Alcohol: 62.0%

Age: 11 years                                       USA allocation: 78 bottles

Cask No. 27.103                                  $110

Fishing boats in Campbeltown harbour 

Campbeltown 

Terrific layering on the nose – peat-smoke, coal and bandages – seaweed, shellfish and smoked haddock – melon, coconut and burnt orange – toffee, caramel and Cornish cream teas – a complex entanglement of pleasing aromas. With water we got apple, banana, peppered fish soup and bonfires – one or two panellists got paint. The palate was big and tongue-roasting – honey, toffee and marshmallow sweetness arm-wrestling with smoke, ash and salty pork crackling. In reduction we tasted more delicate smoke and buttery mackerel (fishing boats in Campbeltown harbour?) – all balanced by sweeter flavours of crystallised orange – from peaty to sweetie. From the oldest surviving Campbeltown distillery.

Drinking tip: For watching the world go by – especially by the harbour

Colour: Honey gold                                Date distilled: March 2000

Cask: Refill barrel                                 Alcohol: 52.5%

Age: 12 years                                       USA allocation: 90 bottles 

Cask No. G3.3                                               $180

Curious but good 

Grain 

The shimmering, shape-shifting nose started with wood glue, then cricket bats, cigar boxes and polished furniture, before soaring into crème caramel, buttered brioche, vanilla and cafe crème – eventually we found tea-smoked duck. To taste, we got Lapsang Souchong and Turkish coffee, banana toffee and ‘licking butterscotch off a polished table’. The reduced nose seemed slightly odd, with initial raisin, Riesling and truffle oil resolving into honey, toffee and crunchy nut cornflake sweetness. The palate became sweet and spicy, ‘curious but good’ – hickory-smoked almonds, toasted hazelnuts, sandalwood, five-spice powder and apple skins in the finish. The Haymarket-based distillery closed in 1993.

Drinking tip: A dram to offer when something different is needed – needs an open mind

Colour: Old rolled gold                                     Date distilled: April 1986

Cask: Refill barrel                                           Alcohol: 56.0%

Age: 26 years                                                 USA allocation: 48 bottles

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society at www.smwsa.com

As part of The Famous Grouse brand birthday celebrations on 10th & 11th August, The Famous Grouse Experience in Crieff is offering fans a sneak peak of their new sampling room – and a free blending session with Master Blender Gordon Motion.

For one weekend only, visitors will have the chance to meet Gordon and learn about his job producing the nation’s favourite whisky. The exclusive tasting sessions will include a sensory nosing and tasting and a blending demo. In addition, one lucky fan will be asked to volunteer to be Gordon’s assistant and help create the bespoke blend.

There will be three 30-minute bespoke blending sessions at: 11am, 1pm and 3pm on Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th August 2013 with Gordon Motion, Master Blender and Lucy Whitehall, Global Brand Ambassador. Only 20 places are available at each session. The bespoke blending sessions will be free. Signed sample bottles of the bespoke blend will be available to buy at the end of each session, priced £30 (this also includes a tour of the distillery).

The Famous Grouse Experience

1.          Glenturret Distillery, The Hosh, Crieff, Perthshire PH7 4HA 01764 656565; www.thefamousgrouse.com/lda/visit-us/visitor-centre

ROYAL SALUTE CELEBRATES THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW WORLD POLO CAMPAIGN FEATURING WORLD NO. 1 PLAYER FACUNDO PIERES

Royal Salute, the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, is proud to announce the launch of its new advertising campaign featuring world No.1 player, Facundo Pieres.

Facundo Pieres, the talented son of the legendary Gonzalo Pieres who is known as the ‘Godfather of Polo’, hails fromArgentinaand has a strong commitment and devotion to this unique game. Pieres possesses an unequalled vision as well as passion for the prestigious sport, which makes him the perfect ambassador for Royal Salute.

Neil Macdonald, Global Brand Director of Royal Salute said: “The new advertising campaign featuring world No.1 player Facundo Pieres marks an important step for Royal Salute. As a luxury Scotch that starts where others end, Royal Salute prides itself on always striving to push boundaries to carve out credible and authentic collaborations. The language of polo is synonymous with the values of Royal Salute; this new advertising perfectly represents the natural affinity between the two.”

“The Pieres family is legendary in the sport of polo and it is an honour to work with a talent such as Facundo. Throughout Facundo’s professional career, he has always exerted a passion, dedication and a vision for this prestigious game. We look forward to strengthening the Royal Salute World Polo Programme with his support and playing a part in making his vision of growing world-class polo around the world a reality.” continued Macdonald.

Facundo Pieres, Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador, commented: “Royal Salute has shown their full support and commitment to polo over the past few years. It is a brand that is steeped in values similar to the game of polo – I am delighted to represent the Royal Salute World Polo programme globally and to be part of this fantastic journey.”

The Royal Salute World Polo Campaign was shot by critically acclaimed and renowned photographer Chris Jackson who has worked on many royal polo events. The new advertising campaign launches this month globally.

Notes

Polo is a game of honour and respect, two values at the heart of Royal Salute. The greatest players are masters of their craft whose sublime horsemanship and respect for their mount allows them to play the noble sport according to the purity of its code.

Royal Salute truly believes and takes pride in the values of integrity and honour; the whisky is laid down to mature for at least 21 years, the unique bottle is meticulously handcrafted from the finest hand-selected porcelain, ensuring that the utmost attention to detail is paid to every element during its creation.

About Royal Salute

Royal Salute is the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, and begins where others end as only whiskies matured for at least 21 years are ever selected for Royal Salute blends. In 2012, Royal Salute became the first ever brand to be officially associated with the Royal Gun Salutes at the Tower of London, as part of a long term partnership with the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces.

Royal Salute is a leading international supporter of polo, ‘the king of sports and the sport of kings’. Royal Salute World Polo is truly international with a presence in every major region globally:

• Argentina Campeonado Abierto de Polo,Palermo,Buenos Aires
• AustraliaSydney Gold Cup, Sydney andPortsea Polo,Victoria
• BrazilSentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup,São Pauloand Copa Ouro São José Polo, São Paulo
• ChinaRoyal SaluteChinaOpen,Beijing
• IndiaRoyal Salute Maharaja ofJodhpurGolden Jubilee Cup, Jodphur
• ItalyPolo Gold Cup, Cortina d’ Ampezzo
• South KoreaRoyal Salute Polo Cup, Jeju
• SpainSnow Polo, Baqueira, Lérida and Sotogrande, Cádiz
• UAE Royal Salute Nations Cup,Dubai
• USAFoundation Polo Challenge,Santa Barbaraand Royal Salute Jubilee Cup,Greenwich,New York
• UK The Sentebale Polo Cup, Coworth Park,  Kent & Curwen Polo Club, London And Beaufort Polo Cup, Tetbury

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, 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.

About Facundo Pieres

Facundo was born into a family of polo players and is the second son of polo legend Gonzalo Pieres (Sr)  and Cecilia Rodríguez Piola. He plays with his two brothers Gonzalo Pieres and Nicolas Pieres, who are also professional polo players in the Ellerstina team. He also has two sisters, Tatiana and Cecilia Pieres.

Grown up surrounded by the best horses and with a professional vision of polo, at 19 he became the youngest polo player to reach 10-goals, in 2005 This allowed him to be recognised as the polo player with greatest projection and the most visible face for his generation.

His career started in 1997, when he won the Copa Potrillos with the Ellerstina Jr. team, which was a subsidiary team for the Ellerstina Club founded by his father and Australian media tycoon, Kerry Packer. Since then, he has played inArgentina, theUnited Kingdomand theUnited States. He has won the Hurlingham Open, Tortugas Open and Jockey Club Open (all inArgentina) amongst other international tournaments.

Facundo started playing in the Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Argentine Open) in 2003 being at the finals in 4 occassions, and winning it in 2008, 2010 and 2012. This year, Ellerstina has also won the Tortugas Country Club Open for the 10th time, 7 of them consecutives.

About Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson is Getty Images Royal and Assignments Photographer.

From private shoots with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Royal tours and covering some of the world’s biggest news stories Chris has photographed a diverse range of subjects and events during the last decade with Getty Images. Over the years assignments have taken him from the Earthquake Zones of Pakistan to the Galapagos Islands, Australia, Los Angeles, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Japan, Dubai, the Arctic Circle, Belize, Brazil and many more.

His images are published regularly on the front pages of newspapers around the world and regularly feature in Newsweek, The Washington Post, The Telegraph, Tatler, Hello! the Times and the Telegraph to name but a few. Chris is 2005 News Photographer of the year and has received a number of special awards for his Royal Photos including Royal Photographer of the Year 2010.

Chris is media trained and has appeared as a Royal spokesperson on BBC Breakfast, RTL, CNN, Sky News, the Today Show, BBC London, CBS Early Show, ITV 1, BBC News 24, FOX News, Channel 7 Sunrise and Channel News Asia. He is regular commentator on the Royals in the press.

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com

Kilchoman win Gold, Silver and Bronze at the 2013 International Wine and Spirits Competition

Each of Kilchoman’s general releases were awarded medals at this year’s prestigious IWSC adding to the International Whisky Competition Whisky of the Year and Master Distiller of the Year awards won by the team.  Loch Gorm took a gold while Machir Bay 2013 won silver and 100% Islay 2nd Edition bronze.

Anthony Wills Kilchoman Managing Director “It’s always hugely satisfying when the efforts of everyone at the distillery are recognised in this way, for all of our entries to receive awards is particularly pleasing”

www.kilchomandistillery.com

facebook.com/pages/Kilchoman-Distillery

twitter.com/Kilchoman05

The Gateway to Distilleries

Illustrated Encyclopedic Distillery-Guide upgraded

The ultimate photographic professional free guide to distilling whisky. More than 130 distilleries are illustrated and described in full detail by thousands of pictures.

“Join in a comprehensive journey to the distilleries of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Mainland Europe and Asia. Meet the people behind the labels and learn more about the making of whisky,” says the editor Ernie – Ernst J. Scheiner.

Highlighted by Ingvar Ronde in his Malt Whisky Yearbook 2013 The Gateway to Distilleries refers to historic aspects of whisky distilling and explains details of production methods. The quality of information may give whisky enthusiasts a detailed understanding of distilling whisky. People of the industry may study and virtually visit  neighbouring distilleries. The presentation is accompanied with a host of information on historic and cultural highlights.

A full list of independent bottlers, whisky festivals and whisky literature is also offered. Portraits of people in the whisky industry make for a complete personal presentation.

It is an excellent teaching website about the whisky industry.

“The definitive virtual distillery tour – of a stunning number of distilleries. An unbelievable resource…”  The Coopered Tot

See: The Gateway to Distilleries at www.whisky-distilleries.net

Contact: info@whisky-distilleries.net

August Outturn: What’s on the Menu?  

This month’s Outturn is oozing with flavour. Whether you’re well seasoned at pairing your dram with dinner or it’s your first taste, you’ll find 15 whiskies and 15 curiously good meaty matches as their perfect accompaniment. Go on, have a butcher’s…   Recipes

August
Offers: This Months Serving Suggestion

August
TRIO: 7.92, 29.121 & 30.77 for only £165

7.92 Set the juice loose!

29.141 Bear branded by Darth’s light sabre

30.77 This is nuts!

Buy

August PAIR: 9.73 & 30.77 for only £99

9.73 Frighteningly easy to drink

30.77 This is nuts!

Buy

Butcher’s Half dozen CASE Offer: 66.43, 72.37, 9.73, 7.92, 29.141 & 30.77 for only £325

66.43 Charmingly hefty and manly

72.27 Bouquet of flowers in a new car

9.73 Frighteningly easy to drink

7.92 Set the juice loose!

29.141 Bear branded by Darth’s light sabre

30.77 This is nuts!

Buy 

Browse August Outturn

*30.77 is exclusive to our August 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.

Auchentoshan Taste Experiments

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 09:41 AM PDT

One of 2013′s more interesting press events took place last Tuesday, with the launch of Auchentoshan’s Taste Experiments Masterclasses.  Consumer tickets for these events sold out in a flash, with fans of the Glasgow malt jumping at the opportunity to … Continue reading >>

Save Lars Whisky!

It is known that the Belgian blogger Mark Dermul is a whisky lover. But he is also well-known for being a huge Star Wars fan. In 2012 he lead a special project name Save the Lars Homestead. During a week in 2012, six fans from around the world travelled to the Jundland Wastes (Tunisian desert) to battle the elements and restore the igloo-like abode of Luke Skywalker to its full movie glory. You can read all about that on www.savelars.com.

At the end of July, the second edition of the Star Wars Celebration Europe, the largest sci-fi convention in the world dedicated to the sage, took place in Messen, Germany. Mark was at this convention presenting a panel about the project Save the Lars Homestead.

So what does all this have to do with whisky, you ask yourself?

To celebrate, his Dutch whisky buddy Imanuel and himself took it upon themselves to create a very special, very limited and very private bottling with the help of A.D. Rattray, independent bottler from Glasgow. Only 6 bottles were created – one for each so-called Saviour. Well… actually there was a 7^th bottle, labelled ‘The Project Lead’s Cut’, as Mark felt the Saviours might want to keep their bottle for a while as a souvenir and he wanted the opportunity to taste it. Hence the extra bottle, of course.

After the idea was spawned, Mark got in touch with A.D. Rattray’s Iain Croucher, who is a bit of a Star Wars fan himself. He loved the idea and sent a list of available casks. Mark and Imanuel selected a Bruichladdich 20 Year Old 1992 bourbon hogshead #3799 at 46% ABV. Mark designed a special label – obviously with the restored Lars Homestead in it and Iain did the rest.

THE LABEL

First he printed all the labels and filled the six bottles. After labelling them, he shipped them out via courier service to Mark in Belgium. All this was taken care of in less than a week.

Labelling

Mark and Imanuel travelled to the Star Wars Celebration, where they surprised the rest of their crew with this very pleasant and delicious gift after the panel. They were obviously chuffed. They opened up the extra bottle, which did not survive the evening. That should hardly come as a surprise, eh?

At the celebration with the WHISKY!

You may expect another one of Mark’s Whisky Ramblings soon, detailing further the story of this exceptional bottling and – of course – the tasting notes.

May the Malt be with you!