www.ralfy.com likes Glenfarclas with Whisky Review 414 – Glenfarclas 2003 vintage @ 43%

20-Tonne Pictish Sculpture Unveiled Outside Glenmorangie’s Livingston Bottling Plant 

— Sculpture marks 20 million bottles passing through state of the art production facility since it opened in 2010. Unveiling comes as Glenmorangie celebrates record export figures in the US, selling 100,000 cases in 2013, up from 37,000 in 2009 — 

— Sandstone sculpture explores Scotland’s Pictish heritage and celebrates Glenmorangie’s Highland roots —  

A 20-tonne sculpture – commissioned by The Glenmorangie Company to stand outside its bottling plant in Livingston as a permanent reminder of its Highland roots – will be unveiled by West Lothian Council Provost Tom Kerr on Monday 2 December. 

Ross-shire based Barry Grove – internationally regarded as one of the finest large stone sculptors working today – was asked by the company behind Scotland’s favourite malt whisky to create a sculpture which explored the country’s Pictish heritage.

 Created over two years using only traditional hand tools, the 300-million-year-old sandstone sculpture named ‘Reveal’ stands two metres high and is just over three metres long. 

Since opening in 2010, 20 million bottles have been produced at Glenmorangie’s state-of-the-art production facility. The new bottling plant was a key element of a multi-million-pound investment by the company to service growing demand for its single malt whiskies worldwide. The strategy has paid off with sales of Glenmorangie, the US’s fastest growing single malt whisky growing, from 37,000 cases in 2009 to more than 100,000 already in 2013. 

Operations Director Peter Nelson commented: “We are very proud to have a major public artwork by a leading artist sited outside our modern production facility. Carved out of 300 million-year-old sandstone from around Glenmorangie’s Tain distillery it celebrates Scotland’s Pictish heritage and is a link to our roots in Ross-shire. 

“It also comes at a time when Scotland’s favourite malt whisky is becoming more and more popular in export markets, with the US reaching an important milestone this year of 100,000 cases. 

“We are proud of our heritage and also our export-driven success over the past few years. This is based on innovations such as the new production facility at Livingston’s Alba Campus, which has now seen 20 million bottles pass along its bottling lines since opening just three years ago.” 

West Lothian Council’s Provost Tom Kerr commented: “I was delighted to have been invited to unveil this magnificent sculpture.  Glenmorangie is a global product and a major exporter and West Lothian is very proud to be associated with it. Reaching 20 million bottles is very significant and the sculpture is a very fitting way to mark the milestone.” 

Barry Grove said: “I am passionate about creating pieces of public art that will last for generations. The sheer size and scale of this project has presented a real challenge but I wanted to stay true to the spirit of the enterprise by using traditional stonemason’s tools.

 “The sculpture explores the theme of re-discovery and depicts blowing leaves revealing a symbol of Pictish design and intricate knot-work, the origin of which dates back to 800AD.”

Notes  

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. 

About Barry Grove

Barry Grove has been carving large stone projects for over 20 years and since graduating with a BA (Hons) in Design from Dundee Art College in 1989 has been specializing in traditional Scottish carving. Barry is internationally regarded as one of the finest large stone sculptors working today. He has worked closely with Historic Scotland and respected experts in this field on a variety of projects over the years as well as accepting numerous private commissions including the Royal family, large international corporations and high-net-worth private clients. Grove is keeping alive the art of stonemasonry in Scotland using traditional tools and techniques. He is based near Tain in the Highlands, where many Pictish artefacts have been discovered and where Glenmorangie’s iconic single malt has been distilled since 1843.

Caption

Sculptor Barry Grove with his 20-tonne Pictish masterpiece, which was unveiled at The Glenmorangie Company’s state-of-the-art bottling plant in Livingston today (Monday 2 December)

CHRISTMAS PARCELS: 12 DAYS LEFT TO FLY

If your gaggle have been good this year, what better treat than a bottle of something gold? Whether they’re peat freaks (127.38) or a little bit crackers (33.131), there’s something for the whole flock. Whilst you’re there, why not head in for a gift for yourself? The 3 rare, oriental offerings from our newest distilleries in Japan are sure to ruffle a few feathers and unravel a new world of flavour…

PANEL PLUCKED PRESENTS

Peaty Trio: all three heavily peated

33.131, A Mad Scientist on the Dockside

127.38 Enticing fume of peat reek

&

53.183 Hot dog with fried onions

BUY £159

Japanese Duo: both deep, rich and fruity

131.2 Magic carpet in a sweetie shop

&

132.2 Stunning Panoramio of exotic fruits

BUY £299

Too good to share? Pair: spicy and sweet with oily and coastal

121.63 Gentle and reserved – but fascinating

&

129.4 Peat smoke infused Peach Posset

BUY £119

Young and Rare Pair: young and spritely with deep, rich and fruity

96.7 For a sweet tooth

&

125.71 Chocolate Coke Float

BUY £119

* 53.183, 96.7, 125.71, 127.38, 129.4 and 132.2 are exclusive to our offers

Browse all bottlings

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 amusing You Tube video

The Balvenie Tun Batch 8 has just arrived back into stock. We have a very limited amount of bottles left so if you would like one you will have to be quick. Good luck! (Free Postage to the UK on all orders)

The latest single malt release from Balvenie, the Tun Batch 8, has been released exclusively for the UK.
A marriage of whisky from nine new American oak barrels and three European oak Sherry casks, Batch 8 has been married in Tun 1401 for several months before being bottled at 50.2% abv.

Jonathan Cornthwaite, the brand manager for The Balvenie at UK explained:

“The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 8 is a fine expression of the artistry employed by malt master, David Stewart and the traditional techniques used at the distillery to make high class single malt Scotch whisky.”

Simply Click To Buy – Only £275

Compass Box Whisky Tasting
at Nickolls and Perks Cellars

  Friday 13th December
Another pre-Christmas treat from N&P!

A tasting of Compass Box Special Blends with Chris Maybin,
Commercial Director of Compass Box.
On offer for your delectation, these rare and valuable editions:

Delilah’s (matched with a small glass of fine beer!)
Great King Street
Oak Cross
Spice Tree
Hedonism
Peat Monster 10th Anniversary Limited Edition
The General

Starts 7.30 p.m Friday 13th December, tickets just £25.00 each (Buy here) 
Contact David  for further details

WORLD FIRST FOR ARGENTINE OPEN FINAL AS ALEGRIA IS SET TO TAKE ON LA DOLFINA 7^TH DECEMBER 2013, PALERMO POLO OPEN 

This year’s 120^th Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (The Argentine Open) will be contested between Alegria and La Dolfina on Saturday 7^th December. Alegria caused one of Polo’s biggest upsets in recent years by knocking out Ellerstina, 19-15, in what was a thrilling display of high goal polo.

The world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, Royal Salute, is celebrating its second year as sponsor of world polo’s most prestigious tournament.  The power and passion of the game of polo, the skill of the players, integrity and honour are values which are also inherent to Royal Salute whisky, making it the perfect sponsorship blend.

To further mark the brand’s commitment to polo, Royal Salute is also launching a new blend to coincide with The Argentine Open. The Polo Batch Limited Edition whisky, which will be available worldwide form December 2013 is a 21 Year Old Whisky which has been specially developed by Royal Salute’s Master Blender Colin Scott, who aimed to create an “exquisite taste, for an exquisite sport.” 

Royal Salute has also asked celebrity German model and photographer Johannes Huebl to capture the pure sportsmanship of the game and the essence of an afternoon at the polo, both on and off the field, in spectacular images. Johannes was inspired by the skill and passion involved after seeing the exhilarating display at the Sentebale Royal Salute polo Cup in Greenwich, USA, earlier this year, which he attended with his fashion blogger and stylist girlfriend, Olivia Palermo. With his discerning taste and artistry, Johannes has been tasked with capturing imagery that will salute the Game of Kings. Johannes will tweet images live from the event to his 100,000+ followers on social media channel Instagram.

The tournament is the penultimate fixture in the Royal Salute World Polo Series for 2013, showcasing the brand’s commitment to the most prestigious international polo events across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Neil Macdonald, Global Brand Director for Royal Salute, commented:

“This is the second year the prestigious Argentine Open has been included as part of the Royal Salute World Polo activities and it is a great privilege to support the greatest polo tournament in the world.

We are also excited to have Johannes Huebl on board who will be helping Royal Salute uncover the skill, courage and craftsmanship behind the game though his photography. There’s no better event to capture all these elements than the Argentine Open, so we expect some striking and inspiring imagery as a result.”

Notes:

About Royal Salute

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

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 Campeonato Abierto De Polo Argentina, Beunos Aires
• Columbia Copa Uribe, Bogota, Columbia
• China Royal Salute China Open, Tang Polo Club,  Beijing
• India Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur, Golden Jubilee Cup
• Italy Polo Gold Cup,  Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Korea Royal Salute Polo Club, Jeju Country Club, Jeju
• Singapore Japanese Cup, Singapore
• Spain Landrover International Tournament, Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande
• UAE Royal Salute Nations Cup, Desert Palm Resort,  Dubai
• UK Westchester Cup, Guards Polo Club, Windsor, UK
• USA Royal Salute Jubilee Cup, Greenwich Polo Club, Connecticut 

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. 

For further information please visit http://www.chivasbrothers.com/ and http://www.royalsalute.com/

http://www.maltmaniacs.net/awards/

Here are the whiskies that won an award grouped by price category:

Ultra Premium (over €150)
Supreme Winner: Karuizawa 1973/2013 (67.7%, Number One Drinks, Ex-Sherry Oak, C#1607, 138 Bts.)
Best Sherried Whisky: Glenfarclas 1989/2012 (56.6%, OB The Family Casks, C#11046, 591 Bts.)
Best Peated Whisky: Benriach 27yo 1985/2013 (48.9%, OB, C#7188, 257 Bts.)
Best Natural Casks: Karuizawa 1983/2012 (62.1% Number One Drinks for LMDW, Hogshead, C#8597, 282 Bts.)
Thumbs Up Award: Teeling 21yo ‘Vintage Reserve’ (46%, Teeling Whisky Co., 2013*)

Premium (€50 to €150)
Supreme Winner: Kavalan ‘Solist’ (57.8%, OB, NAS, Sherry Cask, C#S06082, 2013*)
Best Sherried Whisky: Glendronach 18yo 1994/2012 (56.6%, OB for Kenny Hsu – Taiwan, Oloroso Sherry Butt, C#68, 621 Bts.)
Best Peated Whisky: Amrut ‘Peated’ (63%, Blackadder Raw Cask, NAS, C#BA18/2013, 268 Bts., 2013)
Best Natural Casks: Clynelish 1996/2013 (57.1%, Berry Bros. for LMDW, C#6421)
Thumbs Up Award: Celtique Connexion Islay 1999/2013 ‘Sauternes Finish’ (58.7%, Celtic Whisky Compagnie, 332 Bts.)

Daily Drams (up to €50)
Supreme Winner: Aberlour ‘A’Bunadh Batch #45’ (60.2%, OB, NAS, Oloroso Sherry Butts, 2013*)
Best Sherried Whisky: Glendronach 10yo 2002/2013 (52.8%, OB for The Whisky Fair, C#710, 665 Bts.)
Best Peated Whisky: Benriach 10yo ‘Curiositas’ (46%, OB, Peated, 2013*)
Best Natural Casks: Springbank 12yo ‘Cask Strength’ (50.3%, OB, 2013*)
Thumbs Up Awards: Benriach 10yo ‘Curiositas’ (46%, OB, Peated, 2013*)

GlenDronach 1994 / 19 Year Old / Single Cask #67 Bottled Exclusively For The UK

Single cask #67 from GlenDronach distillery, the final UK exclusive for 2013! (honestly!)

“A full-bodied, robust sherry character holds a balance of dark dried prunes, raisins, sultanas and rich toasted spices. Roasted coffee bean and dark chocolate infuse with delicate herb notes in a long earthy finish.”

£86.95 (£72.46 ex vat)

Click here to buy GlenDronach Single Cask #67 UK Exclusive

Christmas Day 1887, the first drop of whisky fell from the distillery’s cooper-pot stills, celebrate Christmas 2013 with a wee dram.

Discounted Items

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Distillery Bottling
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$24.99

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$40.99

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$79.99

Glenfiddich “Cask of Dreams” 2012 Limited Release
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$109.99

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery 19 Year Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$159.99

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$159.99

Glenfiddich 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$3200.00

www.dandm.com

Kilbeggan Distillery to Undergo Additional Renovations to Further Enhance its Heritage Centre

Kilbeggan, Ireland, – During November and December, the 256-year-old Kilbeggan Distilling Company in Co. Westmeath will close to the public for important restoration work on the magnificent tourist attraction and working distillery. The latest renovations reflect the continued investment Beam is making to further upgrade the visitors’ experience at Kilbeggan.

The distillery, owned by Beam Inc., one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, will close on the 11th November, and work will get underway immediately.  There will be no disruption to the availability of Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey during this period, and the distillery will re-open to visitors again in mid-December in time for the festive season.

While the restoration work is taking place, the team located at the distillery will carry on work as normal in the bar and office area and will also undertake professional training.

Rachel Quinn, Global Brand Manager for Scotch & Irish for Beam, commented, “The number of visitors to Kilbeggan has grown in the past two years thanks to the significant investment Beam has made to enhance the visitor experience. This next phase of renovation work will focus on replacing the courtyard roof and updating the fixed electrical onsite. These improvements will ensure that the distillery experience is further enhanced for the thousands of visitors who enjoy the distillery and its surroundings each month.”

Quinn continued, “Whiskey is all about heritage, and no other country in the world can compete with Ireland’s whiskey heritage. Kilbeggan has put considerable effort in transforming the global upsurge in interest in Irish whiskey into tourists visiting Ireland to experience first-hand the heritage and craftsmanship of Irish Whiskey.”

The latest renovations at the Kilbeggan distillery follow Beam’s last year investment of €70,000 to fully restore the historic waterwheel as well as to enhance the visitor tour, tasting bar, gift shop and overall experience.

About the Kilbeggan Distilling Company

The Kilbeggan Distilling Company (KDC) operates Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery, the Kilbeggan Distillery which dates back to 1757.  The KDC also operates the Cooley Distillery at Riverstown in Co Louth.  KDC’s portfolio of Irish whiskeys includes Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Tyrconnell Single Malt, Connemara Peated Single Malt and Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey.  The KDC is part of Beam Inc, one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies. 

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher’s Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials.  Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations.  

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index.  For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.