Tuesday 22nd January 2014
Discover the joys of matching whisky to cheese. Join us in sampling some our finest whiskies with cheeses from around the globe. This will truly be a delectable evening.
£55.00
Our mailing address is:
Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, England W1D 4NX
United Kingdom
MUSIC TO THE EARS – ‘WHISKEY WOOD’ HEADPHONES
DJ Duo Elijah Wood and Zach Cowie Team Up With BushmillsTM Irish Whiskey and Grado Labs to Turn Whiskey Barrels into Cans
Bushmills Village, 5th December 2013; The best and most ambitious ideas often come late at night, between friends and fuelled by a glass of amber nectar. Imagine how the conversation went down between Elijah Wood, his DJ partner Zach Cowie and the Bushmills Irish Whiskey team, following their DJ set at Bushmills Live festival.
The question posed, born out of a shared love of music and handcraftsmanship, was of how to create the perfect sound? Their response – a limited edition line of bespoke headphones created from the barrels used to age Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
This symphonic synergy of high fidelity audio, hand-made from authentically-aged whiskey barrel wood by Brooklyn-based Grado Labs, was inspired by generations of craftsmanship and a dedication to producing supreme sound. They are available globally from Turntable Lab here at an RRP of $395 USD.
United by their love of music, the two friends worked together to design the headphones to fit their specific aesthetic vision. They chose to work with Grado Labs, a family-owned company that ranks as the leader in design engineering for high-end audio and recording. Owned by the same family, working out of the same Brooklyn factory for more than 50 years, Grado makes every set of headphones by hand, delivering an award-winning level of quality and authenticity that meshed perfectly with Wood and Cowie’s vision.
Elijah Wood commented: “Working with Bushmills Irish Whiskey on this project enabled Zach and I to take our shared love of music and build upon it. We worked closely with Grado to develop a line of headphones that we’re proud to wear and to share with design and music enthusiasts. It’s been a very rewarding process to get to collaborate on the creation of these headphones with such a respected, and family owned, company – between us, Grado, and Bushmills Irish Whiskey, we each have our own aesthetic, and it is so gratifying to see it all come together.”
Elijah Wood has a longstanding relationship with the Bushmills Irish Whiskey brand, performing with Zach at Bushmills Live* 2012, the first time the pair had performed together outside of the United States. He also appeared in its ‘Since Way Back’ initiative that celebrates the stories of influences and friendships that have led each member to success.
Widely known for his acting, Elijah Wood is also a music lover, DJ, and record collector. Elijah’s passion for music transcends genres, and together with his good friend Zach Cowie (aka DJ Turqoise Wisdom), they often DJ together under the moniker Wooden Wisdom.
Featuring an all-new design, these custom-made headphones include a premium leather headband and wooden bodies made from Bushmills Irish Whiskey barrels. Designed to offer greater clarity and deeper bass, these one-of-a-kind headphones must be heard to be believed.
Notes
*Bushmills Live is an annual music festival which hosts both iconic and emerging artists for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the historic Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of distilling has been perfected over generations.
Keep Up with Bushmills at:
Facebook: facebook.com/bushmills1608
Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal
About Elijah Wood
Widely regarded as one of the most gifted actors of his generation, Elijah Wood continues to challenge himself with roles spanning the spectrum of style and genre.
Wood was most recently seen in the Franck Khalfoun’s re-make of the thriller “Maniac.” The film was released limitedly by IFC in late June 2013. Additionally this summer, Wood returned for a third season of the hit FX comedy “Wilfred” which was recently picked up for a fourth and final season. Next, Wood will be seen in thrillers such as “Grand Piano” and “Open Windows”. Announced in early October 2012, Wood, alongside Daniel Noah and Josh C. Waller formed a genre-themed production company. SpectreVision is an independent horror film company with several current projects including “Cooties,” “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,” and “Toad Road.” Wood made an indelible mark in the trilogy of films based on J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the Rings” in the lead role of the hobbit, Frodo. Directed by Jackson, the films; “The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers,” and “Return of the King” were all critically lauded as well as being box office record setters.
About Zach Cowie
Zach Cowie, aka DJ Turquoise Wisdom, has worked in the record business his entire adult life, at labels including Touch & Go, Sub Pop, Drag City, and Rhino; as a Tour Manager for artists including Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Vetiver, Vashti Bunyan; as a touring DJ for Animal Collective and Fleet Foxes; and most recently as a Music Supervisor/Consultant for films and television shows including Celeste & Jesse Forever, Public Enemies, Wilfred; and and fashion brand Rodarte. But first and foremost, Zach is an avid record collector, and has been DJ’ing internationally since 2001. He has also been featured in publications including Vanity Fair, Mojo, Spin, Venus, Nylon, Paste, Anthem, The New York Times, The LA Times, The Stranger, SF Weekly, Chicago Reader, Seattle Weekly, LA Record, Aquarium Drunkard and Arthur, just to name a few. You can sneak a peak into his musical diary of 2013 at www.playitlathes.com.
About Bushmills Irish Whiskey
Bushmills Irish Whiskey enjoys a worldwide reputation as a uniquely authentic Irish whiskey with a heritage spanning four centuries. Bushmills is a premium Irish whiskey, produced, aged and bottled at Ireland’s oldest working distillery in Bushmills Village, Co. Antrim. A community where whiskey has been shared among friends since 1608 when the area was first granted an official license to distil. Triple-distilled Bushmills Whiskey is made with the finest malted Irish barley and pure Irish water, and is the only Irish whiskey brand that offers a full range of blends (standard and deluxe) and single malts – all of which share the rich, mellow and distinct Bushmills characteristics: Bushmills Original, Bushmills Irish Honey Spirit Drink, Black Bush, Bushmills 10-Year-Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16-Year-Old Single Malt and the rare Bushmills 21-Year-Old Single Malt.
About Diageo
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people and its brands, visit www.diageo.com. For Diageo’s global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.
Glengoyne Ambassador Night
Tuesday 21st January, 6.30pm Start
Alan Wardrop joins us from the Highland distillery of Glengoyne to talk us through their fascinating history and intriguing range of single malt whiskies. As with all our Ambassador Nights the £20 ticket price can be redeemed against purchases made on the night.
£20.00
All tastings take place at our tasting cellar:
Milroys of Soho,
3 Greek Street
London
W1D 4NX
Early December Outturn Offerings
Cask No. 77.28 is President’s Choice
Tropical Nights
Cask No. 77.28 $175
Highland, Northern
Candlewax and scented wood – sandalwood, cedarwood – in the foreground and an exotic fruity/floral complex behind – mango and papaya, toasted pineapple, bougainvillea, moon flowers. We were reminded of dining under candlelight in a tropical garden, especially when dark chocolate, marzipan and strong Arab coffee (with cardamom seeds) began to emerge. At natural strength the texture is distinctly waxy, smooth and mouth-filling; the taste full of juicy fruit. Water raises more wax and dark chocolate, and now some passion fruit joins the display. The taste remains fruity, but slightly more bitter, like dark chocolate truffles dusted with cocoa powder.
Drinking tip: After dinner in a tropical garden
Colour: Deep gold Date distilled: August 1987
Cask: New Charred Oak Second-Fill Hogshead Alcohol: 54.9%
Age: 25 years USA allocation: 120 bottles
Cask No. 9.69 $130
Turkish delight and fragrant Thai rice
Speyside, Spey
The nose was attractively complex – green apple, kiwi, peach and lemon zest freshness; almond slice, Turkish delight, apricot Danish and toffee sweetness; then floral dimensions in old roses, geranium leaf, straw, Mediterranean herbs and fragrant Thai rice (jasmine). The palate offered toffee, jelly beans and dates, but blackcurrant and liquorice boiled sweets, cinnamon and Pernod provided deeper interest. With water, the palate gave hints of smoke and ash, but mainly cooked fruits – apple strudel, rhubarb crumble, poached pear and baked apple with raisins. The palate was now a triumphant balance of tart and sweet. The distillery has nicer gardens than any.
Drinking tip: Between the working day and a fun-filled evening – this could be the perfect transition
Colour: 24 carat gold
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 17 years
Date distilled: April 1995
Alcohol: 56.9%
USA allocation: 120 bottles
Cask No. 127.34 $90
Flying saucers and octopus balls
Islay
We found an almost endless list of amazing, enticing aromas –– sweet campfire smoke, hay-bales, birch sap, prawn shells, charred smoked mackerel, cinnamon, clove, dried roses, pot-pourri, orange, apricot and peppered ham. The palate did not disappoint – a lively, stimulating, crashing wave of taste – smoke, brine, ash, prawn tempura, Cullen Skink and takoyaki (octopus balls); dry-roasted cashews, roasted chestnuts, lemon sorbet and flying saucers. The reduced nose maintained our interest – great balance of sweetness and smoke – leather, canvas, peanut butter, fried sage, marzipan and pencil shavings. The reduced palate was spritzy, uplifting and full of positive anticipation. Smoky stuff from the Rinns.
Drinking tip: On the beach – holiday time – gathering driftwood for the bonfire and barbeque – sun sinking towards the horizon – this is the one!
Colour: Treasure chest gold
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 9 years
Date distilled: August 2003
Alcohol: 63.2%
USA allocation: 132 bottles
Cask No. 121.61 $95
Pulled pork with chocolate mousse
Highland, Island
The nose neat has the aromas one would expect from looking at the colour; figs, dates, muscovado sugar and dark chocolate. Some of us eating ´´Pulled-Pork´´ with a vinegar and mustard based barbeque sauce, whilst others had a spoonful of mousse prepared with Maya Gold Chocolate Orange, cinnamon and the zest of an orange. The taste was like dark treacle – rich, syrupy and slightly bitter. There is a hint of a struck match but balanced by the sweetness of a sip of Tia Maria. With plenty of water the aroma becomes fruitier and sweeter like a slice of Terry’s Chocolate Orange or the Greek dessert baklava. The taste is that of raisins, orange truffles with powdery cocoa, sultana cake and in the finish a glass of Madeira Malmsey.
Drinking tip: Whilst manning a barbeque
Colour: Burnt chestnut
Cask: Refill butt
Age: 10 years
Date distilled: July 2002
Alcohol: 61.1%
USA allocation: 120 bottles
Hot chilli peppers and vanilla ice cream
Cask No. 36.61 $95
Speyside, Spey
The Panel was greeted by an intriguing combination of vanilla and new oak. Fruity notes appearing over time, juicy red apples, lemons and pink grapefruits. Back to sweet aromas like the ‘honeycombed’ sugared centre of a Crunchie bar and crushed nuts on vanilla ice cream. Very juicy neat on the palate – freshly squeezed white grapefruit, but at the same time the extreme heat of a very hot chilli pepper. With water, more delicate on the nose, flowery – white roses and lilies, and fruity – lychees and kumquats. The oak is now that of wood shavings and a freshly sharpened pencil. Creamy to taste, chilli powder, icing sugar and Bitter Lemon with the bitterness and tannin of a dry white wine in the finish. This distillery is named after the highest mountain in the region.
Drinking tip: Whilst having a break from DIY
Colour: Peach gold Date distilled: May 2002
Cask: First-fill barrel Alcohol: 58.8 %
Age: 10 years USA allocation: 120 bottles
Spun sugar and spooned honey – mmm!
Cask No. G8.2 $160
Grain
The nose was warm, comforting and luxurious – loads of toffee, vanilla ice-cream, crème caramel and butterscotch; we also detected roast beef, hay, red berries and a chest of drawers lined with the Financial Times. The palate did not disappoint – thick caramel, hot fudge, rum and raisin ice-cream and dark chocolate mousse; beyond that, new wood, cardamom and pink peppercorns guaranteed complexity. Water jazzed up the nose producing spices (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom) like rabbits out of a hat. The palate now mellifluously mouth-coating with ‘monkey’s blood’, chocolate Brazils, spun sugar and spooned honey – mmm! This Alloa grain distillery closed in 1993.
Drinking tip: If ice-cream parlours sold whisky – this would be the one
Colour: Cleopatra’s choker Date distilled: June 1989
Cask: Refill hogshead Alcohol: 62.4%
Age: 23 years USA allocation: 60 bottles
Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society www.smwsa.com
Angels whisky club INTERVIEW by Paul McLean.
Rhubarb Whiskey!
Paul; When I first heard of RHUBARB WHISKEY I thought; “some one is having a laugh!” But I looked into it and, holy drams! what a band I found! So I just had to interview them, in fact, I spoke to Emchy, one of the band founders, this is how it went … So Emchy, thanks for chatting to me across the great divide (Atlantic).
Emchy; Hi Paul Thank you so much! We do love whiskey of all kinds, and two of us have Scottish ancestry.
Paul; can you tell me a wee bit about the band and how you started.
Emchy; Rhubarb Whiskey is an American band that likes to delve into the darker side of the psyche. While our music is fun to dance and stomp along to, we tend to write songs about love and friendship gone wrong, murder ballads, and things of that sort (Paul interupts … that’s happy! maybe you should write a song about my first wife? she still flies around on halloween lookin for me). Music to listen to in dark bars with a hearty drink in your hand sort of tunes. We all have a love of travel and those old dusty road adventures are always made better by a nip of whiskey or two. When we formed the band, and were writing our first song “Sorrows Drowned” we knew our band name had to really convey the spirit of our friendship. So me and Boylamayka Sazerac (vocalist / guitarist) decided on Rhubarb Whiskey, since I always try to put rhubarb in everything, and the mixture felt like a real coming together of the sweet/sour loss of innocence and the bite of the whiskey that helped you lose it. Paul; my granny grew rhubarb at the back of the garden. She made really good rhubarb pies, but that’s another story.
Paul; aye sounds strange – but interesting, do continue; Emchy; we are two veterans of the SF Bay Area punk rock scene. With myself on accordion and vocals, and Boylamayka on acoustic guitar, we began writing songs with a variety of musical and influences, from German cabaret to blues and folk and beyond. In 2010 the band was joined by Sizzle le Fey on fiddle (Paul; hold it there, made up name surely?). We quickly developed a reputation as hard drinkers infusing traditional music with the energy of their punk roots.
Paul; have you had good reviews? Emchy; The band released a self titled CD/EP in 2010, followed by a full length album, Cautionary Tales, in 2011. Our music has been referred to as the antiprohibition hellbilly goth, the bluegrass Dresden Dolls, the love child of Bill Monroe and Sid Vicious. With harmonies and raw storytelling, we seduce the audience with atmospheric, romantic drinking songs that are sexy, rugged and alive. (Paul, well I asked for that eh!)
Paul; where have you/do you gig? Emchy; we have played all over the Bay Area, at DNA Lounge, the Swedish American Music Hall, El Rio, The Sunshine Artisan Factory, Starry Plough, and more, and shared stages with Unwoman, Geoff Berner, Sour Mash Hug Band, The Billy Boys, Bye Bye Blackbirds, T&A, Mars Arizona, Liquor Cake, 5 Cent Coffee, Plasterkatz. Vagabondage, Oakland Wine Drinkers Union, Victoria & The Vaudevillians, and many others (Paul, er hold on, havnee heard of any of those bands!). We will also be appearing on air at several Bay Area radio stations and at select live performances.
Paul; any plans for more releases? Emchy; Same Sad End is available for purchase online at: http://rhubarbwhiskey.bandcamp.com/album/samesadend Right now we have released two full length albums and an EP since forming in 2008 and have a couple of new projects in the works. A noir/crime inspired album that will have a graphic novel to accompany it, and our next country album full of songs about travel and the sea.
Paul; Emchy. my heid hurts now, could you have no turned doon that background music? Emchy; sorry Paul you should have said!
That ended (almost) our telephone chat, a lassie to take home and meet your mum! cannee wait until the CD’s get here, we will be giving one away in January, see our club newsletter.
For more information on the band http://www.rhubarbwhiskey.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/rhubarbwhiskey
Paul was chatting to Emchy of the band Rhubarb Whiskey.
see webpage at; http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/rhubarbwhiskey.asp
http://www.angelswhiskyclub.com/ A free worldwide whisky appreciation club.
www.ralfy.com highlights official/Independent differences with Whisky Review 415 – Highland Park 20yo Signatory
The public have spoken: three whisky designs go to online vote as part of industry world first
— Crowdsourcing venture is part of Glenmorangie’s Cask Masters programme which gives enthusiasts the chance to help create a new whisky: from selecting the actual liquid, to naming, to designing the packaging, photography and even influencing the location of the launch event —
— SUGGESTED TWEET: @theglenmorangie #caskmasters programme seeks YOUR opinion on their next bottle design. To have your say visit: www.glenmorangie.com/caskmasters —
From today (09:00 on 4 December) for the first time ever, whisky aficionados worldwide get to vote on the packaging design of a new single malt which they have helped to inspire.
The initiative is part of Glenmorangie’s world first Cask Masters whisky creation programme which aims to get members of the public involved in the process.
It was launched on 1 March 2013 and will run for 18 months with the new Limited Edition Glenmorangie whisky ready for release in the autumn of 2014.
The whisky, extra-matured in exclusive Manzanilla sherry casks, had already been selected when three casks of whisky were put to a public vote earlier this year.
Whisky fans have also selected the name Taghta (Tuh-ta), Gaelic* for Chosen, after thousands of suggestions were whittled down to a shortlist of three names translated by Gaelic expert Dr Aonghas MacCoinnich and put to an online vote.
Following a month-long period when whisky fans worldwide uploaded pictures and design ideas to a special online gallery, three new packaging designs have been produced by branding expert Jon Davies from leading London design agency Butterfly Cannon.
Today the designs are put to the public vote with Glenmorangie fans able to choose the label and carton which, from next September, will be available for online purchases world-wide.
Cask Masters is the brainchild of Glenmorangie’s Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling & Whisky Creation, who is accompanied by an expert in each field of the five-step process.
Dr Bill Lumsden commented: “This is a wonderful opportunity for fans of Glenmorangie to really help create a new single malt whisky and the plans for its launch. Some of the ideas uploaded by the public have been truly inspirational, from lighthouses to parachutes to contestants competing in a Highland Games.”
Butterfly Cannon Founder, Jon Davies, commented “It has been amazing to get the chance to involve so many consumers in the creative process: I feel I have had a studio full of hundreds of creatives rather than tens! The images and ideas have been perfect for the designers, sparking compelling brand and product stories which have been brought to life in three unique packaging designs. I am fascinated to see which one Glenmorangie aficionados will choose.”
For more information visit: www.glenmorangie.com/caskmasters
Voting closes on 6 January and the chosen packaging will be revealed on 7 January. One of the voters will win an Apple iMac.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Glenmorangie has already taken inspiration from Gaelic with the name of some of its most famous creations. Within its exclusive Private Edition range of whiskies, it has selected names to reflect each expression, with Artein meaning “Stone”, and Finealta meaning “Elegant”.
At the later stages of the Cask Masters programme experts will also offer their guidance on the photography and launch suggestions received from whisky fans.
At each stage participants will also be able to win prestigious prizes including a VIP visit to the Glenmorangie Distillery and a trip to the country of origin of the oak cask in which the winning whisky has been matured.
About Glenmorangie:
Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create ‘unnecessarily well made whiskies.’
Responsible Drinking:
The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.
For more details: www.glenmorangie.com/caskmasters or Twitter: #caskmasters @theglenmorangie
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
USA RE-LAUNCHING OF TAMDHU
Tamdhu, one of Speyside’s founding distilleries has officially re-launched today in the United States with a stunning new 10 year old Speyside Single Malt.
Acquired in June 2011 by Ian Macleod Distillers — the leading Scottish independent family owned distiller and bottler — Tamdhu Distillery was established in 1897 by a consortium of pioneering businessmen who embodied the ‘can-dhu’ spirit of their generation.
Inspired by an age of industry and endeavor, the Tamdhu story is one of enlightenment that began, and continues to this day, on the banks of the River Spey. Now, just as then, Tamdhu is matured in only the finest oak sherry casks with natural Speyside water from the Tamdhu spring.
The new Tamdhu 10 years old has the softness of vanilla and sugared almonds on the nose, balanced by fresh oak and cinnamon. Bursting with fruit and spice and gently yielding to toffee, there is a richness of sherry oak on the palate with a gentle hint of peat smoke wisp.
Designed to maximize on-shelf presence, the packaging communicates the Brand’s values and provenance with a stylish, textured black, white and gold tube, illustrated monograms and an elegant glass bottle, inspired by the Victorian era.
ImpEx’s leaders, Ed Kohl and Sam Filmus agree that as a Speyside Distillery, Tamdhu is a particularly exciting addition to the family because it perfectly complements their already diverse Scotch portfolio. The distillery’s
incredible pedigree and history will captivate connoisseurs and beginners alike, further extending the reach of
ImpEx’s network and making its tasting seminars even more compelling.
“Tamdhu has a reputation for producing exceptional quality single malt. [We have ensured] that our best casks had hit their peak before bottling. With a focus on quality, we have honored the careful distillation process to create a premium malt Scotch whisky we believe Tamdhu’s founders would be proud of.” – Leonard Russell, Managing Director and third generation of the family-owned Ian Macleod Distillers.
“We are committed to growing the Brand within the USA, and are confident it will prove popular with whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.”– Roderick Mackenzie, Ian Macleod Distillers Area Sales Director.
Tamdhu 10 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky will be available in the US for distribution in mid-December 2013.
We’re honored that we can make the ‘Can-dhu’ spirit part of your holiday spirit this year and we’d like to wish you a wonderful Holiday season!
Warm regards,
Ed Kohl,
CEO and Managing Director of Sales
Sam Filmus,
President and Managing Director of Operations
You Are Invited
4th Annual
Canadian Whisky Awards Banquet
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Grand Pacific Hotel
Victoria, British Columbia
Join us in Victoria B.C. to celebrate the best Canadian whiskies in the world.
Tickets for the gala banquet and awards presentation may be purchased for $60 from James Burrough at the Hotel Grand Pacific. Your ticket includes the awards ceremony and a full hot and cold buffet.
Reach James by e-mail at
jburrough@hotelgrandpacific.com
The Canadian Whisky Awards help keep the world talking about the best deluxe, premium, value, and flavoured Canadian whiskies.
Winners will be announced at the ceremony and through major press across Canada and the U.S.
We hope to see you in Victoria.
Davin de Kergommeaux
