Behind the Blend with Ludo

‘Blendologie’, Part II

Hello,

The highlight video from our second ‘Blendologie’ show is now available below. My guest was no other than our Master Blender himself, Brian Kinsman, who as well as answering questions from our viewers and talking about his role, led a particularly educational live blending session.

As with the first event , the video is in French…(please click on the link to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK 

Kind regards,

Ludo

June Outturn:Tongue twisters for the summer 
Unfurl the windbreak, this latest tropical bunch are popping with  juicy flavours. Pineapple smoothies, rhubarb and custard swirly lollies, barbecued prawns and lots of coconut – they’re all here.

June Offers: Pirates Private Property

June TRIO: 7.85, 35.90 & 3.207 for £169
7.85 A little dab’ll do ya
35.90 A blonde in an Afghan coat
3.207 The sea is getting rougher on the Puffer
Buy

June PAIR: 30.76 & 3.207 for £115
30.76 French Martini
3.207 The sea is getting rougher on the Puffer
Buy

June CASE Offer: 3.207, 64.44, 1.173,
121.60, 9.71 & 76.104 for £329
3.207 The sea is getting rougher on the Puffer
64.44 Complex and fun to discover
1.173 A fascinating waltz
121.60 Interesting nooks and crannies
9.71 Menthol tobacco and sugared almonds
76.104 Luscious, delicious and summery
Buy 

Browse June Outturn

*3.207 is exclusive to our June offers

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.

Fathers Day Shopping Is Solved!

This year, yet another tie or polo shirt is not the answer. Pick up a bottle of Virginia Highland Malt for your dad, husband, son and brother. Dad, we’re providing this helpful photo for you to print out and leave lying round the house. Take charge of your future! And, finally, have a wonderful Fathers Day!

Virginia Distillery Company

Royal Salute Unveils The Diamond Tribute

To mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, Royal Salute, has introduced a new permanent expression to its range of luxury Scotch whiskies, The Diamond Tribute.

This unveiling coincided with the 62 round Royal Gun Salute to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at HM Tower of London. Guests of Royal Salute were in attendance as part of our long-standing support of Historic Royal Palaces and The Diamond Tribute was served at a reception at the Queen’s House.

The first bottles of Royal Salute were produced in June 1953 at the time of the coronation and have since been available in three different glazes denoting the rubies, sapphires and emeralds of the Imperial State Crown.

The Diamond Tribute takes its name from the most precious of gems and is in-keeping with the Royal Salute tradition of expertly blending only the most precious aged whiskies. The rarest of these have been selected from the locked Royal Salute vault at Strathisla – the oldest working distillery in the Highlands – where these casks rest under careful guard and watch until they have reached a minimum of 21 years of age.

Christian Porta, CEO of Chivas Brothers, comments: “It is appropriate for Royal Salute to mark the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation with the introduction of The Diamond Tribute. It is a distinctive whisky that befits the traditions and values of Royal Salute; combining age and craftsmanship to create a Scotch whisky of finesse and rich complexity.”

Colin Scott, Master Blender for Royal Salute, continues: “Creating this whisky has been a great honour. It has immeasurable depth with rich aromas of peaches and sweet poached pears complemented by a sensation of sherry, and a wonderful spicy liquorice tang. It has a long, sweet and luscious warmth to finish”

Royal Salute The Diamond Tribute will be rolled out worldwide from July and will retail at US$270 in Travel Retail.

Notes:

Royal Salute
The pinnacle of Scotch whisky, award-winning Royal Salute was first created to mark the 1953 coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This defining luxury whisky has a very powerful and sophisticated style, and has become the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky brand.

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 with a portfolio that includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com and www.royalsalute.com

This once in a lifetime tasting event features three Ardbegs from the 1970′s and the legendary 17 Year in addition to Corryvreckan, Uigeadail, Galileo & and the new Ardbog. This is one tasting event you don’t want to miss:

The Utlimate Ardbeg Experience Featuring Ardbeg Double Barrel- 1974 is the most sought after of all Ardbeg vintages, and we’ll be sampling two 1974 single casks from the very rare Ardbeg Double Barrel ($15,210.49) set. In addition, participants will sample a selection of other Ardbegs including: 10 Year, 17 Year, Corryvreckan, Uigeadail, Galileo, Ardbog Day and another rare vintage; the delightful 1977! The event will feature some tasty morsels, and will be held at the Southern Alberta Pioneers Hall, 3625 4th Street S.W., Friday June 14th at 7:00PM. – Friday June 14th – $300

Purchase Tickets at Kensington Wine Market Ultimate Ardbeg Event

Loch Fyne Whiskies, ‘New in Stock: Bruichladdich Ancien Regime 18.06.98’ 

Bruichladdich Ancien Regime 18.06.98

46%abv

12 Years Old

£68.50 inc vat £57.08 ex vat

Best regards,

Loch Fyne Whiskies

david@lfw.co.uk

GlenDronach Single Cask 5347 UK Exclusive

70cl / 55.1% Vol

A UK exclusive from GlenDronach distillery. Single cask 3547 was distilled in 1994 and matured in a Pedro Ximinez sherry puncheon for 18 years.

Bottled in 2013 with only 607 bottles filled.

Single casks from GlenDronach distillery don’t tend to hang around for long, so if you’re a fan get one while you can… Especially at this price!

Official Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Polished cherry wood.

Nose: Creamy chocolate rum-raisins are perfectly spiced by a hint of sweet chilli. A gentle apple and barley note rounds off the nose.

Palate: Beautifully sweet peppery spices roll to chocolate fudge cake and waves of vanilla pod, ending in a delicate mint and stewed barley finish.

RRP – £83.99

Abbey Whisky – £75.00 (£62.50 ex vat)

Click here to buy GlenDronach Single Cask 5347 UK Exclusive

A message from our friends at Scotch Whisky Auctions;

“Hi folks. We are filling up fast for the next auction and will close it for bottles on Wednesday, June 12.

Kind regards from Glasgow.

The SWATeam”

Visit them at www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com

The Balvenie Whisky Fete and Tun 1401 Batch 8

It’s the time of year when the folks at The Balvenie, invigorated by the pale globe in the sky shining its limp light through Scottish clouds, celebrate their craft laden approach to whisky making with The Masters of Craft. It’s … Continue reading >>

Alasdair and Wendy

On Thursday May 30^th, I had the pleasure of meeting the affable Mr. Alasdair Day who was in town to promote Tweeddale Whisky, Batch Three at the Toronto Kingsway LCBO.  Mr. Day was well into a jam packed week of promoting this LCBO new release to fellow Ontarians.  I bought two bottlings which he happily autographed, and while savouring a complimentary sample of Batch Three, we enjoyed a chat about Tweeddale, the May 25 LCBO debut and this being his first trip to Canada.

I really like the story behind Tweeddale.  It is a piece of history that resonates on a deeper level.  It embraces the entrepreneurial spirit of breathing life back into a family legacy while jumping in with both feet.  How great is that?  Alasdair’s great-grandfather, Richard Day, was a Scottish whisky blender who kept meticulous blending notes in his “cellar book.” However, after World War II, he closed the doors to his blending company J & A Davidson and sold off his remaining casks.  Eventually, the cellar book fell into the right hands when Alasdair inherited his great-grandfather’s notes; perhaps this is the case of destiny at its best.   In 2009, Alasdair took the leap and founded Stonedean Ltd with the exclusive intention to recreate the Tweeddale Blend.  In 2010, after a 70 year hiatus, the first Batch was created.   On the heels of the success of Batch 1 and 2, Mr. Day and company are now celebrating their first North American whisky debut on the LCBO shelves and into the palate of the Ontario whisky enthusiast.  Tweeddale Batch Three is a 12 year old blended whisky, bottled at 46% abv, non chill-filtered, and retailing at $69.95.  The blend is a composition of nine single cask whiskies; eight malty whiskies and one single grain.  It is a handsome bottling that is decorated with an etching of Richard Day.  My only critique is that nowhere on the label is it identified which Batch number the bottling is.  For me, that is an important detail to note.  To nose and taste, this is a smooth, all around very enjoyable and welcoming dram with a lovely balance of sweet vanilla, nutty and spicy warm notes with a hint-o-smoke.  Well done to the Day family!

As a whisky enthusiast, it felt meaningful to welcome Alasdair and his great-grandfather’s Richard Day’s legacy to this side of the pond. But more importantly, Batch Three is very tasty.

Wendy Harker, Toronto