www.ralfy.com visits a Creek with Whisky Review 390 (1/2) – Rowan’s Creek Bourbon

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, the world’s leading Irish Whiskey producer, has unveiled a new look and line-up for its popular Powers range, reflecting the company’s vision for Powers as a contemporary, super-premium whiskey, recognised for its flavor, quality and craft.

Changes to the range include the addition of a new Single Pot Still expression, Powers Signature Release, which will be available in Ireland and the USA from September 2013, plus new packaging and a new recipe for its seminal Powers Gold Label.

Powers Signature Release is the second Single Pot Still whiskey to be added to the Powers family, following the release of the ultra-premium Powers John’s Lane Release in May 2011. The new expression bears the hallmark spicy flavours that are typical of the Powers whiskeys, with black pepper, honey, vanilla and berries in abundance. Using the signature Powers pot still distillate, it has been matured mainly in American bourbon barrels with the subtle inclusion of whiskey matured in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks.

Powers Signature Release was introduced to whiskey fans for the first time in the US at WhiskyFest Chicago in April this year and will be on shelf in the USA and Ireland from September.

The new-recipe, new-look Powers Gold Label has taken inspiration from the brand’s history and features a higher strength abv of 43.2% and will be non chill filtered, allowing the spicy pot still character of the whiskey to come to the fore.  Being able to release a non chill filtered whiskey at strength lower than the industry norm of 46% is directly related to the proprietary triple distillation process which Powers uses.

The updated packaging reflects the super-premium nature of the whiskey and brings Powers Gold Label in line with the look of the other whiskeys within the Powers family.  The new whiskey and packaging format will be available in the USA from September 2013.

Anna Malmhake, CEO at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, says: “Powers has been long been regarded by whiskey lovers throughout Ireland and the world as the ‘whiskey drinker’s whiskey’ and recognised for its traditional, full-bodied pot still flavours. With demand for Irish whiskey now stronger than ever, it’s an exciting time of opportunity for the category in general and for Powers in particular. The timing is ideal to harness the tremendous reputation of Powers and to showcase its quality to an ever increasing number of super-premium whiskey drinkers.”

“With whiskey drinkers increasingly prioritising craft and quality in their purchasing decisions, we see excellent growth potential for the super-premium segment of the Irish Whiskey category so we are confident that the new Powers range will be a big hit for discerning whiskey drinkers, as they continue to explore and discover the many great whiskeys that Irish Distillers’ extensive portfolio has to offer.”

The introduction of the new-look Powers range is the latest in a series of innovations from Irish Distillers, owner of the world’s leading Irish whiskey brand, Jameson. May 2011 saw the release of its award winning range of Single Pot Still whiskeys and a subsequent release of numerous other whiskeys reaffirming the company’s commitment to growing the Irish whiskey category and to improving consumer awareness and understanding of the excellent quality of Irish Whiskeys at all price points.

Notes  

Tasting notes: 

Powers Gold Label 

Nose:

Aromatic Pot Still spices, soft cinnamon, a tincture of clove oil and a dusting of white pepper in balance with russet apples and ripe pears, all on a background of charred oak. 

Taste:

The rich Pot Still spices, cinnamon, green peppers and a touch of nutmeg combine effortlessly with orchard fruits, vanilla and toasted oak. All laid upon a crisp barley core.

Finish:

The lingering Pot Still oils and spices slowly fade leaving the wood and the barley competing for the last word.

Powers Signature Release

Nose:

Opens with the undeniable aromatics of traditional Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Triple distillation in Copper Pot Stills and years of maturation in top grade oak casks produce the crisp fresh herbal notes of garden mint and bergamot, balanced with more robust spicy touches of nutmeg, fig and black peppercorns. The sweet vanilla notes are laid upon a background of Charred American Oak and the subtle use of ex-Oloroso sherry butts, from Iberian oak, brings some succulent berry fruits to the mix.

Taste:

The initial mouth coating, typical of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, is succulently sweet with vanilla and leads into the warming flavours of the charred oak casks. Hints of black liquorice and cinnamon slowly allow some fruit to appear – melons, green apples and pears. Then, as the richness subsides, there is a crisp flinty acknowledgement of the barley.

Finish:

Long and wonderfully complex. An unhurried journey through an impressive flavour spectrum.

ABOUT POWERS IRISH WHISKEY

The origins of Powers Irish Whiskey date back over two hundred years when James Power founded the distillery at John’s Lane, near the western gate of Dublin in 1791.

A pioneer of its time, John Powers & Son was the first Irish distiller to bottle its own whiskey back in 1886, adopting a gold label exclusively for Powers bottled at John’s Lane as a guaranteed mark of its high quality. Today, Irish Distillers is continuing the brand’s reputation for quality and innovation as it reaches out to whiskey fans who are looking to expand their knowledge of Irish Whiskeys with the new-look Powers family, which includes Powers Gold Label, Powers Signature Release and Powers John’s Lane Release.

Powers whiskies share a signature style, with a rich and spicy character that is also remarkably silky, and have always been recognised for their traditional pot still flavours and dedication to the craft of whiskey distilling. 

About Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

Irish Distillers Group was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers, John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the board of directors decided to close the existing distilleries in Cork and Dublin, and to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility.

A site alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork was chosen as the location for the new distillery, as there was no room for expansion in Dublin. Both the Old Jameson Distillery and the Old Midelton Distillery currently operate as visitor centres attracting over 330,000 visitors annually. Following an early unsolicited takeover offer and one of the most protracted battles in Irish corporate history made by GrandMet, Allied-Lyons and Guinness, Irish Distillers was taken over by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 with the support of the management and employees.  

Irish whiskey brands within the Irish Distillers’ portfolio include Jameson, Paddy and Powers, with Single Pot Still brands, Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Redbreast and the much-revered Midleton, which includes prestigious expressions such Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy and Midleton Very Rare, completing the line-up.  

http://www.irishdistillers.ie/

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

How do you feel about blended whisky?
Search your inner feelings. Go on. We dare you.

In all likelihood you are at best ambivalent, possibly hostile at worst.

And why is that?
It could be one of many things.
Perhaps your first experience with whisky was with Grandad’s dusty bottle of Macduffin’s 3 Year Old. Or in the pub you were treated to a double of the much-vaunted ‘house’ blend which was definitely more suited to staying in the bottle or stripping paint than being in your glass.

Or perhaps, like us of old, through tasting experience, marketing nonsense and years of malt whisky snobbery, you have decided that there is no way you will lower yourself to the humble blend?

For our next series we are challenging you and the wider single malt drinking public to the great Blends Vs Malts blind face-off. We are also challenging the blend to stand up, man-up and be counted, with three of them duking out with three single malts over three punishing rounds. Only those present will decide which whisky wins each round – you are the referee!

Being a ‘blind’ tasting, this means that until the end of the tasting you will only be able to use your palate to decide your favourite whiskies of the night, as we seek to remove your preconceptions and feed your imagination.

Who will the winner be? You can only decide if you are there!

As always, tickets are just £20 per person and include all 6 samples and access to a wider world.

BLENDS VS MALTS DATES & VENUES

10th September – Sheffield, The Blake 7.30pm
13th September – Newcastle Upon Tyne, Blackfriars 7pm
18th September – London, The Red Lion SW1 7pm
17th September – Brighton, The Hilton Metropole 7pm TBC
Note: Brighton date change from 19th September
21st September – Manchester, Britons Protection 7pm
25th September – Leeds, The Crosskeys 7pm
27th September – York, The Brigantes 7pm

See you there!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter – @thewhiskylounge – and like and share our Facebook page to keep bang up to date with the latest news about our events and more.

We look forward to seeing you over a dram or two soon.

Sláinte!

Eddie, Amanda & Joe

Team Whisky Lounge

Final Whisky Show 2013 Masterclass Announced

This year’s Whisky Show is rather a lot busier than in previous years. We’ve got more ‘stuff’ going on each day than ever before, with complete details appearing on the website next week, and an almost complete list of exhibitors … Continue reading >>

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert is on the short list for Culinary Narratives at the Taste Canada Awards. Sponsored by the University of Guelph in partnership with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the annual awards honour the best Canadian food and drink writing. Winners will be announced on November 4 at a gala celebration in Toronto. The CBC is also hosting an exciting readers’ choice contest for the Taste Canada Food Writing Awards!

Canadian Whisky News by Davin de Kergommeaux

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #59

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tastes a North British 1991 single grain matured on a Californian sherry cask for 14 years before being bottled by Andrew Symington of Signatory. He shot the video in the Medieval town of Laval in France.

http://youtu.be/-GZWWoheCG0

THE BALVENIE WHISKY FETE  ST. ANDREWS SQUARE GARDENS, SEPTEMBER 26TH – 28TH
Whisky talks and tastings held in a unique handcrafted ‘stave domes’,
St. Andrews Square Gardens.

The green of St. Andrews Square Gardens will be transformed into a whisky fete, where people can mingle and discuss all things handcrafted, dram in hand. Open to the public each day, 12.00pm to 6.30pm on the 26th, 27th, 28th September 2013 – there will be tutored tastings with The Balvenie’s Brand Ambassador Dr. Andrew Forrester, and workshops with The Balvenie’s craft partners.

The Balvenie Whisky Fete is part of The Balvenie Master’s of Craft campaign, celebrating British craftsmanship through a series of events and an award programme. The Edinburgh Whisky Féte will feature bespoke Geodesic domes made from Whisky casks from The Balvenie distillery within which open-to-all demonstrations and exclusive tastings will be held. Royal Mile Whiskies will also be running whisky sales on site, for those who would like to take something home with them.

1. The Balvenie Cooperage Tasting Sessions
There will be tasting sessions available all afternoon where consumers can meet The Balvenie team led by Dr Andrew Forrester as well as Head Cooper Ian McDonald, who will be demonstrating the craft of coopering. Guests will be able to taste the range in an informal, intimate setting. Tasting sessions are free to attend and will be held on all three days at multiple times. See website for further detail.

2. The Balvenie Warehouse 24 Private Tastings
For The Balvenie Warehouse 24 members there will be free daily private tastings with Dr Andrew Forrester, with the chance to try something special liberated directly from the cask, with The Balvenie’s signature dipping dog. Sessions are free to attend and will be held on all three days at multiple times, please see mastersofcraft.thebalvenie.com  for more details.

Warehouse 24 is The Balvenie’s members club, and is free to join via the website: www.thebavlenie.com

Notes

About The Balvenie

* The Balvenie is a unique range of single malts created by David Stewart, The Balvenie Malt Master. Each has a very individual taste, but each is rich, luxuriously smooth and underpinned by the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie.

* Little has changed at Balvenie Distillery over the years. Uniquely we still employ all the traditional crafts of malt whisky making, which is why The Balvenie tastes the way it does.

* Born in Ayr on the west coast of Scotland in 1945, David Stewart joined William Grant & Sons in 1962, the year before Single Malt Scotch Whisky was first officially exported to England. He was appointed the distiller’s Malt Master in 1974 and his renowned ability to identify the finest casks of whisky for maturation has helped William Grant & Sons earn the Distiller of the Year accolade an unprecedented eight times (2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000 and 1999).

* The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons Ltd, an award-winning independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and today run by his direct descendants.

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Arran Devil’s Punchbowl Chapter II Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($129.99)
• Kilkerran “Work In Progress” #5 Bourbon Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($62.99)
• Kilkerran “Work In Progress” #5 Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($62.99

Scotland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year old Blended Malt      Whisky 750ml ($59.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Caol Ila 12 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky750ml ($54.99)

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

Wiser’s Re-launch Includes U.S. Exclusive

Wiser’s whiskies, so long in demand by cross-border shoppers from America, are coming to all 50 U.S. states beginning this fall. And there’s a bonus: JP Wiser’s Rye, a succulent rye-forward expression is a U.S. exclusive. Wiser’s parent company, Corby Distillers will also distribute Pike Creek and limited quantities of Lot No. 40 across the U.S. Don’t despair Canada, we’ve not been forgotten. They also plan to re-release the non-chill filtered Wiser’s Red Letter, and as with the original it will be on store shelves in Canada only.

Canadian Whisky News by Davin de Kergommeaux

Upmarket Future for Scotch Cited By Sector Veteran

by Ian McConnell

http://tinyurl.com/mtdl4t2