Launching today )Aug 30th), our new Limited Release Delilah’s is a homage to Mike Miller’s legendary Chicago punk rock whisky bar which just celebrated its 20th anniversary. The whisky was developed by Compass Box whiskymaker John Glaser and Mike Miller as an expression of their shared vision that great whisky should be enjoyed by all. Only 6,324 bottles were produced and are available from today in select markets worldwide.

As John explains, “Mike wanted a Scotch whisky that, in his words ‘thinks it’s a Bourbon’ so we sourced some great whiskies aged in a mix of experimental new American oak barrels, which are extremely rare in Scotland.

The result is a Scotch with a big, luscious vanilla-oak character that is dangerously easy to drink neat and perfect served as a shot with a beer—the way a lot of whisky is enjoyed at Delilah’s!” Bottled at a come-hither 40%, Delilah’s is a marriage of malt and grain whiskies with rich intensity, subtle honeyed fruity notes and hints of cereals and vanilla cream. Or according to Whisky Advocate’s John Hansell, ‘one of the most drinkable whiskies I’ve ever tasted’.

To order a bottle just contact your local whisky retailer today. Alternatively you can also purchase Delilah’s from our UK-based online shop.

“Above All, Share & Enjoy!”

Whisky Design Awards kickoff on September 1st 2013

This is the status of the nominees in the two categories at the kickoff for the final voting on September 1st, 2013 that runs until 30 November 2013. The order shown is the result of the ratings given to the … Continue reading →

Miner’s Delight Inn, 1st Friday, every month, 6 – 9 p.m.

No reservation required for tastings, but we appreciate advance notice for groups

Here’s what you get for $40:

♦ 5 half-ounce pours of single malt Scotch whisky:

♦♦ 3 Friday features (10% off bottles of your favorite Friday Feature)

♦♦ 2 Connoisseur’s Choices from our single malt menu

♦ hors d’oeuvres to freshen your palate between pours

Old Pulteney Takes Taste of Wick to the World as Scottish Clipper Yacht Unveiled

Scotland’s only entry into the world’s longest round the world sailing challenge was officially revealed today (Wednesday 28^th August) as an international crew from the Clipper Round the World Race were piped on board the 70ft ‘Old Pulteney’ yacht at St Katharine Docks in London.

Led by their skipper Patrick van der Zijden – known as the ‘flying Dutchman’ but today wearing a traditional Highland kilt in honour of sponsor and ‘maritime malt’ Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky – the boat was then christened by Clipper founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Old Pulteney Senior Brand Manager Margaret Mary Clarke.

The Old Pulteney is one of a fleet of 12 super yachts which will depart London this Sunday (1^st September) on a year long voyage around the world, stopping in the northern French Port of Brest before a tour that will take in Rio, Cape Town, Australia, Singapore, Qingdao, San Francisco, Panama, Jamaica, New York and Londonderry – concluded by a homecoming in London in July 2014.

The crew is made up of men and women from all walks of life – from retired engineers to taxi drivers to housewives – who give up their normal lives to train and take on the adventure of a lifetime. Scots, Adam Nunn from Dundee and Charles Slater, who originates from Orkney are amongst them, along with people from twelve different countries – the UK, the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Spain.

On christening the boat with Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, Sir Robin commented: ‘I am very pleased to officially launch Old Pulteney today. Their sponsorship of the Clipper Race truly cements them as the genuine ‘Maritime Malt’. As a first time team sponsor, we welcome them aboard and wish them a safe and successful journey.’

Margaret Mary Clarke added: ‘This is a thrilling day for Old Pulteney and we are extremely proud to see our boat take its place amongst the Clipper fleet as we get ready for the start of the race on Sunday. With Old Pulteney growing in popularity in markets all over the world, it’s very fitting for us to be taking a dram in such spectacular style to ports around the globe. We wish Patrick and our crew the very best of luck as they set out on their exciting voyage.’

Over 650 crew members from over 40 nationalities are set to take part in Clipper 2013-14 Race, which starts Sunday, 1 September from St Katharine Dock, London. The Clipper Race fleet is made up of twelve brand new identical ocean racers with each one sponsored by a different destination or brand.

The Clipper Race generates intense global media coverage and provides a powerful marketing platform for global brands. Old Pulteney plans to utilise this platform in each of its key territories through brand activations and awareness exercises which will be announced as the race progresses.

L-R – Skipper Patrick van der Zijden, Old Pulteney Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring, Old Pulteney Brand Manager Margaret Mary Clarke and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Notes

About Old Pulteney

Old Pulteney is one of the world’s finest and most distinctive single malt Scotch whiskies. Known as the ‘Maritime Malt’, it is crafted in the windswept coastal town of Wick, home to the Pulteney Distillery which is one of the most northerly on the Scottish mainland. The distillery was established in 1826 in the heart of ‘Pulteneytown’, the town created to house fishermen during Wick’s famous herring boom which drew a fleet of over 1000 boats and 7000 workers to this remote and rugged harbour.

Old Pulteney is the embodiment of this place, its people and its remarkable history. The skilled Pulteney distillery team continue to craft their whisky using the most traditional and time-honoured techniques that most others have long abandoned. This includes the uniquely shaped Pulteney stills, which are reflected in the design of the Old Pulteney bottle on shelves today.

Matured in hand-selected oak casks, the resulting whisky has been acclaimed for its excellence, its smooth drinking style and faint hint of the sea. Old Pulteney holds the coveted title of ‘World Whisky of the Year’ for 2012 in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – one of the industry’s highest accolades. The whisky also achieved top ten status in the UK single malt market in 2012 and is flourishing in many other countries around the world.

Old Pulteney continues to celebrate all things related to its maritime heritage and is renowned for its long standing support of sailing adventure across the globe.

About Clipper Ventures Plc

Clipper Ventures Plc was established in 1995 by legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69.  Sir Robin founded the company on the premise that sailing should be made available to everyone, regardless of age or experience. So he launched the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 1996. The company owns and operates its own matched fleet of ocean racing yachts and so far more than 3,000 people have competed in the eight editions of the Clipper Race to date. The company also owns the rights to the professional solo round the world VELUX 5 OCEANS race and runs a successful events division offering corporate sailing and development programmes. Today Clipper Ventures is recognised as a leading international marine events company which is focused on developing and promoting major global events such as the Clipper Race.

Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race will start on Sunday 1 September from St Katharine Docks London, and return almost a year later after completing the 40,000 miles route, making it the world’s longest ocean race. The event was established by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to give everyone, regardless of sailing experience, the opportunity to discover the exhilaration of ocean racing. 650 people representing more than 40 nations will compete in the Clipper 13-14 Race on twelve brand new 70-foot yachts designed by renowned naval architect Tony Castro. It’s the largest race ever. Crew members can sign up for the whole circumnavigation or one or more of eight legs. The only qualification for the race is the minimum age of 18 (there is no upper age limit) plus a thirst for adventure. The overall race is divided into individual stages and points are accumulated in a Formula 1-style scoring system. The yacht with the highest total points at the finish wins the Clipper Race Trophy.

Wow, well that was some summer! A very welcome surprise and we hope you enjoyed it. That’s not to say it is over by the way…

However, with schools (and Whisky Schools) re-opening and the autumn in the post, we thought it would be rude not to give you an update on where we are here at Whisky Lounge Towers. We have been working away on our program for the rest of 2013 and within this email you will find everything up to and including events in October, so let’s go!

It’s nearly here…

Our 3rd year in Liverpool is fast approaching and to celebrate, we are going to offer out the early bird until the end of the coming weekend for anybody who missed out! So tell your friends, tell your family – The Whisky Lounge is coming to town and is bringing some great stuff with them once again! Just check out a few of the exhibitors we have in store for you…

As always, your ticket price includes:

• FREE Glencairn Crystal Tasting Glass
• FREE Festival Guide
• FREE Bottle of Water
• FREE Access to sample ALL ‘On The Counter’ Drams for no extra cost
• FREE 2 WHITE Under The Counter Dram tokens – NEW (see website)
• ACCESS to The Whisky Exchange shop within the event
Just a reminder that it takes place on Saturday 7th September at The Camp & Furnace, Greenland Street between 12pm and 5pm. The usual ticket price is £30, but the early-bird is just 2 tickets for £40! You can’t say fairer than that!
Click here to go straight to the offer page and to see what joys await you!
This offer will be switched off at midnight on Sunday, so please do not delay!

NEXT UP:

What’s the first thing you think of when you think Whisky?

Johnnie Walker? Chivas Regal? Famous Grouse?

Hmmm, maybe not. But WHY?? You’re more likely to be thinking about a whisky festival or maybe an amazing trip to a malt distillery. But if you were the average whisky drinker in most of the world (including the UK) then the above whiskies aren’t just blended whisky – they are whisky.

In fact, according to a 2011 statistical report by the Scotch Whisky Association, of all the whisky sold around the world in 2011, only 8% was actually single malt! So why is this the case? Surely single malt is better, right?….

Well, events like our very own ‘Jam & Dram’ or ‘The Great Whisky & Music Experiment’ showed this year that blends can not only be good, but they can be intriguing and beguiling…

Six tasty drams will be filling your glasses – three blends and three single malts – drams that will almost certainly get you thinking differently. And just to make it a little spicier, they will be tasted in pairs…blind! We want to get you thinking not just about malt whisky and blended whisky, but whisky as a whole. Dare to be different!

Your opportunity to take part in this series is bigger than ever, with venues all over the UK. We are always looking to expand our horizons, so if you have an area and venue in mind, let us know – there may be a little something in it for you…

BLENDS VS MALTS DATES & VENUES

10th September – Sheffield, The Blake
13th September – Newcastle Upon Tyne, Blackfriars
18th September – London, The Red Lion SW1
19th September – Brighton, The Hilton Metropole
21st September – Manchester, Britons Protection
25th September – Leeds, The Crosskeys
27th September – York, The Brigantes

Well what are you waiting for, get booking!

ALSO COMING SOON…

We have plenty more coming up, including our next term of Whisky Schools. A unique proposition whereby you and/or your loved one spends a full day learning, blending, breathing and tasting whisky – what a chore. Taking place in the luxury that is Malmaison and Hotel du Vin hotels and including a 2-course lunch at the venues – this is the business!

If you fancy getting involved, we are running Whisky Schools up and down the country in select locations during September and October. Click here to find out more.

Both Manchester and York Festivals are booking – and have been for some time so where have you been?! All the details can be found on the website for these highlights in the TWL calendar. Just click on the relevant banner to be taken to the relevant page!

COMPETITION TIME!

Another topical quiz for you this month, this time focussing on blends.
As always, the first to email in with the correct answers wins a sample of something interesting…

1. In what year did Aeneas Coffey invent the continuous still? Which Scotsman’s original design was it based upon?
2. In which town did John Walker first start blending whisky?
3. What is the maximum number of single malts allowed in a blended Scotch whisky?
4. What is the difference between a blended Scotch and a blended malt whisky?

Once you have your answers, click here and fill them in on the email to us, along with your name and postal address. Good luck!

THAT’S ALL FOLKS!

That’s it for now, plenty to work at there and we’ll see you at an event soon – happy dramming!

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

Compass Box is a specialist Scotch whiskymaker. You will discover a world of small batch Scotch whiskies, made in a variety of styles to appeal to a variety of tastes.

Discounted Items

Compass Box Asyla, Grain and Malt Blended Scotch Whisky
Sweet, delicate and very smooth on the palate, with flavors of vanilla-cream, cereals and a subtle apple like fruit character. $54.99

Compass Box “Great King Street” Artist’s Blend Scotch Whisky
Its smooth to the palate with vanilla, tropical fruits and fresh toast. $39.99

Compass Box “The Spice Tree” Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Bourbon lovers take note; the nose shows caramel popcorn, brown sugar and butter,with a smooth palate of vanilla, spice and dark chocolate. $72.99

Compass Box “The Peat Monster” Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
For those who love big, rich, peaty and smoky malt whiskies, this is your whisky. $64.99

Compass Box Orangerie Scotch Whisky Liqueur
Infused with Orange Zest, Cassia and Clove.It is soft and pretty, an after dinner drink. $49.99

About our D&M Buying Clubs

Here at D&M we are passionate about Single Malt Scotch whiskies . To help make our passions a little easier on your (and our) pocketbook, we have come up with a number of different buying clubs. The purpose of these clubs is to explore these wonderful beverages, trying new things, and to save money. Look around these pages to see what we’ve offered in the past, and what is yet to come. To sign up for a club, click on the desired link below, add the club to your cart and enter your contact information and credit card number during checkout. Your credit card will not be charged until your club items are mailed to you for that month.

American Whiskey
Single Malt Connoisseurs’ Club
Single Malt Aficionados Club

September Previews: Beautiful Landscapes Unfold

The gentle foothills of an Indian summer or perhaps the shady valley of the first frosty night – who knows what’s just over the horizon in September? Join us in climbing a towering peak of single casks, where the high vantage point will let you catch the first glimpse of next month’s beautiful landscape unfolding before you…

36.63 There is chilli in the fruit pie 

15yo Refill ex-bourbon barrel

Speyside Spey £49.20

The nose neat is a balanced combination of fruity and sweet aromas; apple and pear crumble, rhubarb and custard, apricot jam and strawberry and lime cider. The taste is a surprise like a chilli infused apple and pear pie, very strong ginger beer and tonic water. With a little time sweeter notes of orchard fruit yoghurt and fruit salad with double cream emerge… Buy

73.59 Beautiful landscapes unfold

14yo Refill ex-bourbon barrel

Speyside Deveron £48.10

A front note of lemon trumpeted a parade of fine aromas – beeswax, polished wood, pineapple, apple, pear and rose, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla custard and canvas. The palate had a definite ‘zing’ of lemon juice squeezed over apple slices or pineapple fritters, then toffee apples, Toffoes, spongecake and wood shavings… Buy

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.

Spot the SMWS bottles in this You Tube video

www.ralfy.com  reviews his first 100% wheat spirit with Whisky Review 389 – Bernheim Wheat Whiskey

ANNOUNCED AUGUST 2013

Unique in the whisky world (we think), an exclusive to MCLEANSCOTLAND

The Whisky First Aid Kit

How often have you thought “I am in desperate need of a dram”  or “havn’t had a decent whisky in ages”

well, think and wonder no more!

As the label states; if desperate…

to be taken liberally morning, noon & night with or without water.

If a condition of thirst continues, go to a respectable bar right away.

Take until condition returns to normal.

MCLEANSCOTLAND your spiritual advisors.

please drink aware as a sensible adult.

www.mcleanscotland.com

firstaid@cleanscotland.com

info@mcleanscotland.com

Paul Mclean of MCLEANSCOTLAND

BLACK ON BLACK – the headbangers challenge; nae riff raff invited!

Black Bush against JW Double Black. Both are malt-grain blends. Both Diageo brands.

BLACK BUSH  Bushmills.  Rich and ripe, with some black fruit. Raisin, cocoa, coconut. I must admit (Paul) that this is my dram of choice in my local pub, very kindly, Billy and Helen buy the BB specially for me, though some other people “mug it off me” over the bar. Sweet start then a chocolate and raisin taste appear. Long sweet finish, so easy to drink – far too easy I may add. Beautifully balanced. Black Bush is a great blend from Bushmills, mostly malt whiskey aged for 11 years in sherry casks before blending. A word of warning though; be careful how you ask for it if there is a lassie behind the bar, have had that trouble before (luckily, the really good looking lasses in my pub know what I mean – in fact many just say “the usual”, or “ a dram?”).  This is not a powerful dram, it’s an “any time of day or night dram”. You only realise maybe you have had enough when you see the bottle as it’s being poured into the glass, and see its half gone already!

JOHNNIE WALKER has the luxury of having access to some of Scotland’s best whiskies, ranging from the west coast peats to the subtle east coast. BLACK LABEL draws upon all these aromas to create a unique blend with a smooth, deep and complex character.   But we tested the JOHNNIE WALKER DOUBLE BLACK – a Blended Whisky with a rich, intense, smoky flavour. By blending selected aged whiskies that are naturally smoky and rich in character, matured in charred old casks, the Master Blender has created a whisky of real character and depth of taste (as we all know, taste is a matter of … well, taste!). The flavour is full bodied and complex with peat shining through raisins and sultanas. Apples, pears and orange zest bring freshness, vanilla and spice also tangle with your tongue. The finish combines spicy oak and lingering smoke. For those who like the smoke/peat, we reckon this is the best JW for you. Strangely enough, this dram is sometimes very hard to find behind the bar in Scotland, mostly export.

SO WHO WON? well, hard to say, they are both different drams, complex and tasty, both won in our opinion. Where did we sample these? as usual in Christies, Perth. Time of day? oh around 6pm – ish, could have lingered on a bit. Background? aye the jukie (juke box) was playing … you guessed it; ACDC  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAgnJDJN4VA  another few tastes and we were thunderstruck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2AC41dglnM  at the end of the day we were shaken http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo2qQmj0_h4  (not stirred).  Who tasted? usual suspects; Paul, Lizzie, Kevin (now mr and mrs), Ming and Boab. Any photos? you gigglin? none of us could hold a camera or mobile phone straight at that time. Drink sensibly people.

The Mad ferrets in Christies; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxMctrfZoKU  well worth following their website to see when they are back, superb live pub music.

Brought to you by www.angelswhiskyclub.com  a free worldwide whisky club