Here you go;

SCOTTISH FIELD WHISKY CHALLENGE RESULTS – SUMMER 2013

Tasting Notes: Talisker Port Ruighe

The folks at Diageo have been paying a bit of attention to Talisker recently. With the 35 year old Special Release at the end of last year, a packaging update for the 10 year old, the recent release of Storm and a … Continue reading >>

20-tonne Pictish Masterpiece Takes the High Road

— After two years’ continuous carving, latest Barry Grove sculpture is transported 200 miles from Tain to The Glenmorangie Company’s new state-of-the-art bottling plant in Livingston —  

A 20-tonne sculpture – commissioned by The Glenmorangie Company to stand outside its new bottling plant in Livingston as a permanent reminder of its Highland roots – has been transported by a low-loader lorry from Glenmorangie’s distillery in Tain.

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 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.

The sculpture was carved from 300-million-year-old sandstone sourced from the area around Glenmorangie’s Tain distillery.

The public artwork stands two metres high and is just over three metres long, and is two-and-a-half times the size of his previous re-creation of the Hilton of Cadboll Stone, an eighth century Pictish Stone with incredible engravings which was discovered near the Glenmorangie Distillery in Ross-shire. This national icon is on permanent display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

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.

“Like Glenmorangie I am fascinated by our past, and creating this sculpture is all about rediscovering our connection with the Picts and Scotland’s early history. This sculpture brings the past to life.”

Paul Skipworth, President and Managing Director of The Glenmorangie Company, said: “For The Glenmorangie Company, craft and heritage are essential to creating Scotland’s favourite single malt. We are very grateful to Barry for his hard work in creating this impressive sculpture.

“The Hilton of Cadboll Stone, originally found near the Glenmorangie Distillery, is a national treasure from this period and the inspiration for our company logo – the Signet – which proudly adorns our whisky bottles around the world. This new sculpture will be a notable landmark at our bottling plant at the Alba Campus in Livingston, and a permanent reminder of our Highland roots.”

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.

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 single malt whiskies.

About The Glenmorangie Company

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay malt. It also owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. 

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. Barry currently lives and works on the Tarbat Ness peninsula, Ross-shire.

 NIKKA POPS UP AT SMITHS OF SMITHFIELD WITH LONDON’S

BIGGEST ARRAY OF JAPANESE WHISKY
May 21-31, 2013 

London, May 7, 2013 – Award-winning Nikka Japanese whisky opens a pop up bar at Smiths of Smithfield* in May – with a promise and a secret.

The promise is that Nikka will display 17 of its premium single malt and blended whiskies for sampling. This is the biggest line-up of quality Japanese whiskies ever assembled in a bar in London. 

Among the 17 whiskies from the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries is the award-winning Taketsuru 17 year old pure malt. It is named in honour of Masataka Taketsuru, Father of Japanese whisky, who established Nikka whisky following studies into Scotch whisky distillation in the 1920s.

The secret is the culture of Omakase –  to be revealed to visitors by Tiziano Tasso, Smiths’ bartender and cocktail mixologist and Nikka Ambassador Sayumi Oyama.

The newly-refurbished Smiths of Smithfield First Floor Cocktail Bar will open as Nikka’s pop up bar from May 21-31.

Smiths of Smithfield, First Floor Cocktail Bar

       67-77 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HJ

Tel: 020 7251 7950 Opening hours: Mon – Sat 5pm til late

www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk

It’s Whiskey Season

Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. Launches Hop Flavored Whiskey

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, Rhode Island, May, 2013 – The Sons of Liberty are continuing the revolutionary craft of creating seasonal whiskies with their 2013 Summer Release – Hop Flavored Whiskey.

“We asked ourselves, if whiskey is a beer that has been distilled, why is no one brewing the beers we love and turning them into whiskey?” said Mike Reppucci, owner and founder of Sons of Liberty Spirits Company. “Then we asked, why not take the seasonality that’s successful in beers and bring it to the whiskey category?”

The Hop Summer Release started its life as an IPA. Through distillation, barrel-aging and dry hopping, the final product is a whiskey that brings the taste of the season through the experience. The nose is hop forward with hints of lemon and grapefruit. With its malty first sip, light mouth feel and a hoppy finish this will soon become a warm weather favorite of New England consumers.

This product launch comes just a few weeks after Sons of Liberty’s Winter Release, a Pumpkin Spice Flavored Whiskey, was awarded Best of Category among Flavored Whiskies by The American Distilling Institute (www.distilling.com) in their 7th Annual Judging of Artisan American Spirits; the Sons of Liberty were one of 124 distilleries to submit spirits for judging.

“The Hop Summer Release was crafted with the “hop head” in mind – the distinct presence of hops and citrus makes for a refreshing drink on the rocks, or awesome cocktails such as a whiskey tonic. If you want to try before you buy, please come down to the distillery any Saturday, we do tours & tastings 12-4pm,” says Reppucci. The hand signed, 1,800 bottle release is now available in RI and MA.

About Sons of Liberty Spirits Co.
Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. (www.solspirits.com) in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, armed with a disdain for overbearing spirit traditions and subpar flavors, combine knowledge and innovation to push the envelope and create revolutionary spirits. The ever-growing line of products started with UPRISING American Whiskey, a malt whiskey distilled from a stout beer. This was followed by Sons of Liberty Seasonals, the first seasonal line of whiskies ever, and Loyal 9 Vodka, a batch distilled vodka that is charcoal filtered 99 times and used as a base for radical flavor combinations using local ingredients. Visit http://solspirits.com/where-to-buy to find which bars and liquor stores carry these products and check back often as the list is growing.

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #47

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, puts two independent releases from Malts of Scotland, the renowned German bottler, head to head: the Auchentoshan 21 Year Old 1991 vs the Auchentoshan 28 Year Old 1984.

http://youtu.be/iaVyluRGQ2k

GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 2

70cl / 55.2% Vol

Towards the end of 2012, GlenDronach Distillery released a cask strength edition, which was designed to supplement the core range of 12, 15, 18 and 21 year old vintages. With the popularity of Batch 1, Batch 2 has been bottled and is now available via our online whisky store.

If the previous batch has anything to go by, this is sure to be another great tasting dram.

Bottled at 55.2% vol.

GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 2 Official Tasting Notes

Appearance: Rich golden amber with a crimson heart.

Nose: Wonderful rich aromas of honey drenched raisins and sultanas. Candied ginger and orange peel are spiced with a beautifully delicate back note of warm oak.

Palate: A perfectly balanced traditional sherried character. An explosion of chocolate coated raisins and zest of orange, mellowed with sweet warm oak spices, hints of soft toffee and gentle sugared almonds.

Finish: A uniquely balanced classic finish.

£49.75  (£41.46 ex vat)

Click here to buy GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 2

www.ralfy.com takes a trip down Memory Lane returning to an old familiar full-flavour single malt with Whisky Review 361 – Talisker 10yo re-reviewed 2013

LAPHROAIG^® SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY REFRESHES PACKAGING

World’s No. 1 Islay Malt Whisky Launches New Look across Award-Winning Global Portfolio 

Laphroaig^® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, proudly reveals a global packaging refresh to its award-winning whisky portfolio. The whisky’s new packaging, which is rolling out globally from this month, reflects the quality of the liquid inside and the rich history of the brand while making it easier for whisky enthusiasts to navigate the portfolio and identify their preferred flavour profile.

Michael Cockram, senior global marketing director, Beam Inc., says, “Laphroaig continues to be the world’s No.1 Islay malt whisky. Our decision to refresh the brand’s packaging has been taken with a great deal of care, given that the brand’s distinctive look has been so successful for many years. We believe the new look creates a modern evolution for the brand, reinvigorating the original design while educating consumers on the brand’s unique taste experience.”

Inspired by feedback from its Friends of Laphroaig community, the packaging features a new label with iconic colors and a typeset that creates a warmer shelf appeal complemented by imagery reflective of the more than 200-year-old distillery. An image of the Laphroaig distillery nestled quietly along the Islay bay remains the focal point of the traditional tube packaging. The subtle redesign follows a successful 2012 performance with continued growth for the brand.

Cockram adds: “After listening to consumer feedback, we believe this redesign will bring greater visibility and appeal, providing a more defined brand personality that resonates with our fans.” 

The new packaging is scheduled to roll out in key Laphroaig markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Australia and Japan. 

Notes: 

• Laphroaig is the No.1 selling Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky globally
• Unmistakably peat-smoke flavours are delivered by burning local Islay peat, containing unique traces of seaweed and heather.
• One of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns.
• The Friends of Laphroaig programme keeps fans of the brand up to date with special offers and news from distillery manager, John Campbell. On signing up, members are allocated their own square foot of land on Islay, and their names are added to the members’ book in the friends lounge at the distillery. Members who visit the distillery are invited to collect their ‘rent’ – a dram of Laphraoig. The community comprises more than 540,000 like-minded Scotch fans from more than 190 countries.

Winter has finally left us up here. It has been a long one, but the spring flowers are out and the days are getting warmer. The Peat cutting season has just started, which lasts until June. Now is the time when it is dry enough to get onto our peat beds but still nice and wet which is what we want for maximum peaty smoke in our kilns! As always we still cut our peat by hand. Not just because it is the traditional way but because the peat retains more moisture when it is hand cut – the old ways are the best. I will try and post you some pictures of the guys out on our “Peat Moss”.

Feis Ile 2013

We are now busily preparing for the Island annual festival – The Feis Ile, held in last week of May.

If you would like to see our programme of special events this year you can view them here. But I have to say that once again they are all fully booked already! With this in mind we are doing as much as we can this year for all of you who cannot make it up here. We will be blogging, tweeting and Facebooking over the 3 primary days, writing and posting photographs of all the events as they happen, much of it live!

The 3 key days are Sunday 26th, Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th May when we will be hosting our Friends Gathering with a delicious roast pig and lashings of Laphroaig. And indeed drinking the last of the Laphroaig cask matured beer that we first had at last year’s Laphroaig Live in Germany. Of course Tuesday 28th May is our official open day when we will try to cover all of the special events live online including my special one when I will be tasting some of the last 40 year old with a few lucky friends!

New Packaging

Soon you will begin to notice a change in our tubes and labels in your local shops. There has been no organised change in the Laphroaig packaging for over 30 years.

Over the years each expression has had a slightly different packaging design so it has all got a little messy. We have now reworked them back into one family design. It is not a huge change- as you would expect. But the whole family looks a lot smarter now I think. Of course we researched these changes thoroughly with many Friends of Laphroaig first to make sure you liked it. So a big thanks to all of you who participated. If you cannot wait, you can see the new 10 year old design here. I hope you like it.

That’s all for now. But please do “tune in” to our Facebook or Twitter pages on our three special days as I hope it will give you a “flavour” of all the fun we have on these big days and encourage you to come next year.

Slàinte,

John Campbell
Distillery Manager, Laphroaig

Visit http://www.laphroaig.com/ to join the Friends of Laphroaig; it’s free!