2nd Seating Added for Bruichladdich’s Jim McEwan this Friday at 4PM – Can you say Happy Hour?

Jim McEwan is one of the most respected figures in the world of whisky, with August marking his 50th Year in the industry. On August 1st 1963 Jim began work at Bowmore distillery on Islay as an apprentice cooper. Jim continued to work for Morison Bowmore for the next 35 years, including a 12 year stint as Bowmore’s Distillery manager. In 2000 Jim joined a group looking to acquire the closed Bruichladdich distillery. They bought it that year and brought it back to life in very short order. Over the following 13 years Jim and his team have taken it from virtual obscurity to one of the Scotch industry’s most recognized brands. Their hard work paid off this year when Remy Cointreau bought the distillery from the private group for £58 million.

When we announced a few weeks back that Jim McEwan would be hosting a tasting at KWM on Friday September 27th it sold out almost instantaneously. We’ve added a second “Happy Hour” tasting from 4-6PM on the 27th, which will feature the same whiskies (listed below), hosted by the same charismatic brand ambassador. This could be your last chance to see the legendary Jim McEwan, with this visit rumoured to be his farewell tour. The price for the tasting is $50, and as an added bonus, all attendees (at both tastings) will receive a $20 gift card to be used towards the purchase of anything in store. Perhaps even a bottle of Bruichladdich for Jim to leave his signature on!

Our 4PM and 7PM seatings with Jim McEwan will feature the following whiskies:

1. Bruichladdich Laddie Classic
2. Bruichladdich Islay Barley Dunlossit
3. Bruichladdich Laddie 22 Year
4. Bruichladdich Cuvee 382 La Berenice
5. Bruichladdich Cuvee 407 PX
6. Bruichladdich Cuvee 640 Eroica
7. Port Charlotte 10 Year
8. PC10

Most of these whiskies are in very short supply in Alberta, and won’t be available much longer. A farewell tasting not just for Jim, but also for some of these Bruichladdich expressions.

You can register for the tasting by phone at 403-283-8000 or online at https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php .

KILCHOMAN LAUNCHES the 3^rd EDITION of 100% ISLAY

We are pleased to announce the Kilchoman 100 % Islay 3rd Release is available now.

This is the latest edition of the 100% Islay range which is produced from barley grown, malted, distilled and bottled at the distillery. This release has had a longer maturation compared to the 2nd Edition and is a vatting of four and five year old fresh bourbon barrels.

Only 10,000 bottles of this limited edition will be available worldwide.

With a delicate and floral nose of soft fruits and pear drops, 100% Islay goes on with peat smoke in the mouth, complimented by a long, sweet and lingering finish that blends with the softer tones of peat smoke.

RRP $89.99

The Bowmore Devil’s Cask and the Bruichladdich Black Art are now available to order from The Whisky Shop.

The Bowmore Devil’s Cask 10 year old

Matured exclusively, and unusually for 10 years in the finest first fill sherry casks, which help to bring out Bowmore’s hot and fiery characteristics, this small batch release is, quite simply, devilishly good!

Tasting Notes:

Nose
Dark fruits,birch tar, the seductive warmth of old leather,brandy, fruitcake and maple syrup.

Taste
Rich fruitcake, tarry chocolate, lingering dark fruits, tobacco and angelica root.

Finish
Exceptionally long, full-bodied finish

Bottled at 56.9% abv

Click here to buy £50.99

Bruichladdich Black Art 4 1990 23 year old

This fourth incarnation of the now legendary Black Art is more enigmatic than ever, the composition of casks a mystery to all bar its creator.

Bottled at a cask strength of 49.2% ABV

Matured in American Oak and a premium wine cask.

Tasting Notes:
The marriage of the spirit from truly magical casks has created a sensational texture, both sleek and suggestive. Lose yourself in the sweet, fruity, mellow oakiness of this bewitching spirit.

Click here to buy £200

The Whisky Shop
Tel 0141 427 2919
info@whiskyshop.com
www.whiskyshop.com

CAERMORY SINGLE MALT 

Caermory Whisky are delighted to announce the launch of there 20 year old single malt.

This single cask bottling has produced just 292 bottles at cask strength (49.6%vol). The cask was specially selected and is available to buy direct from Caermory whisky and will be in due course be available via selected retailers across the UK.

We hope you will share and enjoy this one off bottling

Information – tel 01462 458591 or visit at www.caermorywhisky.co.uk

Highland Park announces sponsorship of Top 50 Gastropub Awards 2014

Highland Park single malt whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has forged a new partnership with one of the UK’s leading pub trade magazines, The Publican’s Morning Advertiser, by sponsoring an award category at their annual Top 50 Gastropub Awards 2014.

The bespoke package will see Highland Park sponsor the ‘Front of House Manager of the Year’ at the awards, which are now in their sixth year and known as the leading event for the premium end of the UK food-led pub trade.

The ‘Front of House Manager of the Year’ award recognises gastropub managers who are a vital part of their pub’s business success and help deliver excellent service. Highland Park will play a key role in the judging process and will present the award to the chosen manager at the awards ceremony on Monday, 27 January 2014 at Anglian Country Inns’ site Hermitage Road, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Peter Sandstrom, marketing director, Maxxium UK on behalf of Highland Park commented: “The front of house manager is a pivotal role in any establishment and the drinks offering is central to this. As an award winning single malt whisky, we are excited to be sponsoring this category. We look forward to reviewing the entries and, ultimately, congratulating the winner.”

Made using only the finest ingredients, which are responsibly sourced and managed, Highland Park is made for people who understand and respect whisky and are ‘fans of flavour’. Promoting a passion for whisky and the importance of flavour, Highland Park helped create the Slow Food UK Chef Alliance, in partnership with Slow Food UK.  The Slow Food UK Chef Alliance engages British chefs in actively championing small-scale producers and working within their communities to promote good quality local and sustainably produced food. 

The closing date for entries is 17 October 2013 and the Top 50 list will be announced at the awards lunch on Monday 27 January 2014.

About Highland Park

Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world.  For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection.   Its range of 12, 18, 21, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malts is consistently acclaimed by connoisseursand experts.  Highland Park has won a string of prestigious awards across its portfolio, most recently including ‘best new whisky release of the year 2009’ for its 40-year-old single malt and ‘best whisky in the world 2009’ for its 21-year-old expression in the World Whisky Awards, as well as four double gold awards in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009.

Five keystones contribute to making the Best Spirit in the World:

Hand-turned malt adds to the deliciously succulent, balanced layers of aromatic character found in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky

Aromatic peat gives a delectably seductive, luxuriant floral sweetness to Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky

Cool maturation enhances the smooth character of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky

Sherry oak casks contribute to the distinctive richness and multi-dimensional complexity of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky

Cask harmonisation ensures consistency and balance in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky. 

The Calgary October First Friday tastings are now open for registration:

PAYMENT MUST BE MADE WITHIN 48 HOURS OF REGISTERING OR YOUR SEAT WILL BE RELEASED WITHOUT NOTICE

Friday, October 4th at 6:00pm

OR

Friday, October 4th at 8:00pm

SMWS members $35/Non-members $45

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

“Calgary First Friday Tastings Sold Out – Saturday 5PM Seating Added”

Please email whisky@kensingtonwinemarket.com to reserve your spot – please provide your full name and phone number

Kensington Wine Market
1257 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB
403-283-8000

Inaugural Whiskies of the World Atlanta

Even if the locations are not within your regular commute, you can still make the visit happen and find it easily justifiable.

The whiskies presented will be specific for each locale, and the cities provide desirable destinations. But let’s talk about whiskies:

Texas own Balcones Distillery will offer the fans of craft an authentic and all-house made (which, to them, is the only way for craft) whiskey of diversity and uniqueness.

Explore the liquid’s possibilities with the most recent release not to be found anywhere: Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky.

Distilled from malted barley, as your typical scotch (and spelled in that manner as well), the vibrant whisky enjoys the unique maturation process: it’s cycled through a variety of ex-bourbon and new wood barrels of both small and conventional sizes. By rotating the spirit, different characteristics emerge from each type of wood, depending on the size of the barrel and how long the whisky rests inside. The resulting spirit offers rich, well-integrated notes of pralines, vanilla, brown sugar and caramel, which evolve into fruity notes. The nose and lingering finish offer a lovely toasted malt character, accented by oak and spice; its appears so Scotch-like. But don’t allow this appearance to mislead you; the malt is revolutionary, yes, but has a true Texas spirit. Other expressions by Balcones continue the void for whiskey innovation: Baby Blue, the first blue corn whiskey and Brimstone, a “campfire in a bottle”, whiskey smoked with sun-baked Texas scrub oak instead of traditional Scottish peat.

Sample the whiskey; add your accolades to the awards and gold medals they had so rightfully deserved. Use the Expo as a chance to meet Chip Tate, the prophet of all things craft (assuming you need to be prophesied). And whether it takes a good businessman or an ardent passion (or both), his two-person distillery from the old warehouse expanded into a full-grown facility that is a tourist attraction and a gift shop. Buying gifts there will be easy: one of Balcones whiskeys that they claim already has a buyer for every bottle it makes.

Whisky Live Boston 2013
Park Plaza Castle
Wednesday October, 2nd. 2013
5:00 – 10:00 PM

Whisky Live will be back in Boston on Wednesday, October 2nd at The Park Plaza Castle (Across from The Park Plaza Hotel).

This will be a great evening to taste some wonderful Scotch, Bourbon, Irish whiskey and much more.

For more info and to secure tickets go to
http://www.whiskylivena.com/event/whisky-live-boston-2013/
and be sure to use the discount code “Boston” (not case-sensitive) to get 20% off your ticket price.

Joe Howell