Royal Mile Whiskies “Bowmore Devils Casks” – Scotch Whisky News
October 7th, 2013
The Devil may care for the marketing fanfare with this new Bowmore, but he sure as hell will appreciate the whisky in the bottle!
Archive for 2013
Ralfy Publishes Whisky Review #398 – Scotch Whisky News
October 7th, 2013
www.ralfy.com has a monsterous moment with Whisky Review 398 – Loch Ness Whisky Festival 2013
The Whisky Lounge “SMWS Series 2013 – Review” – Scotch Whisky News
October 6th, 2013
SMWS Series 2013 – Review
by Joe Clark
The Six Single Cask Stunners
After the runaway success of our first Edinburgh Whisky Festival in conjunction with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s 30th anniversary, we thought it fitting to take some of their bottlings on tour around the UK to help spread the word on what is simply one of the best Indie bottlers going.
So we set out to all our usual haunts London, Brighton, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, York and Sheffield. The series saw a fantastic uptake from you all with Newcastle, Leeds and Sheffield all selling out. This in my mind shows just how keen people were to try these elusive single cask beauties.
Before we look at the results, its worth quickly explaining the SMWS, so if nothing else this review makes some sense to people other than those in the know.
The SMWS have been bottling single-cask whiskies exclusively for their members for three decades, and have a collection of slinky venues for members to kick-back in all over the world. Unlike other independent bottlers the SMWS never disclose the distillery of origin on their labels. Instead you get a quirky title which gives a suggestive nod to the whisky’s style and a mysterious code which (with a little research) reveals the whisky’s origin and release within the SMWS archive.
The beauty of single cask bottlings like these is that they are selected and bottled under their own merits and offer a one-off snap shot of the distillery in question. They will often display characteristics which are unique to that individual cask – characteristics which can be lost when casks are vatted together to iron out differences and create consistency in regular distillery bottlings.
Make sense? No? Well you should have booked onto one of these tastings! Never mind, the opportunity to taste single cask whiskies with us will no doubt come up again.
Now being single cask is both a strength and a weakness depending on how you look at it. The merits of bottling an individual cask which shines with unique and delicious character is a given, but what if you want to drink that dram for weeks, months, years to come? Well then quite simply, you’re scuppered, unless of course you had the foresight (and cash) to buy a case or two of the whisky in question. Indeed the whiskies that were featured on this flight of tastings might have already been lost to the pages of whisky history never to be repeated. So like I say strengths and weaknesses….
Here was the line-up
4.167 Perfumed and Sultry, 21yo, 53.7%
35.87 Exuberant, Confident, Energetic, Vivacious, 9yo, 60.1%
G7.3 Fresh Toffee and Glossy Magazines, 27yo, 59.4%
73.52 Speakeasy Perkiness, 23yo, 57.5%
3.193 Baby-Faced Arsonist, 14yo, 57.7%
53.176 Pain is So Close to Pleasure, 20yo, 56.6%
Just look at that lot, you know you’re in for a good a tasting when you kick off with a 21yo Highland Park. Apologies if you’re looking at this and thinking “what the hell does that all mean?” that’s ok, there was a day when I would have thought the same too. If you quickly search any of the codes and their titles on line you’ll soon find out which distilleries they’re from.
So with such an unusual and incredibly strong line-up like this is not surprising that everyone fortunate to taste this lot were blown away. I’ve worked with some strong line-ups over the years but this is probably one of the strongest and a real roller-coaster ride with sherried twists and peaty turns. Here’s some of the high lights from twitter, you can see what various people thought by searching the hashtag #scstunners
It’s often the case that single cask whiskies can display characteristics a far cry from their regular off the shelf counterparts and this lot was no exception. Whisky #2 was for me absolutely mind blowing, after having tried several releases from this distillery, including some rather old and expensive releases. This particular cask left all of these other examples in its dust. It also came in as the second favourite of the tour. Proof beyond any doubt yet again that you can never condemn a distillery as you never know when a little gem like this might appear to surprise and delight you.
I think it’s fairly safe to say that if you like whisky and are always on the hunt for interesting things to try you can do a lot worse than getting on board and becoming a member with the SMWS.
Check out http://www.smws.co.uk/ for more info on this cracking organisation!
See you next time!
Cheers, Joe
Scotch Malt Whisky Society “October Outturn: Very Inviting” – Scotch Whisky News
October 6th, 2013
We’re thirty. You’re thirsty. What better excuse for the Society to splash out on a party (or five) so we can all celebrate our pearl anniversary in style?
And if you can’t join us in person, we invite you to select a suitably celebratory bottling from this month’s Outturn and raise a glass from wherever you are instead.
Young & spritely
48.39 Red Liquorice Shoelaces
£41.80
125.70 A dram of two halves
£68.40
Sweet, fruity & mellow
121.64 Maggie Thatcher at the funfair
£48.10
9.68 Plentiful fruit – super-charged sweetness
£82.20
30.79 Wherever I hang my jacket…
£87.20
Spicy & sweet
73.57 Jamaican Rumtopf
£77.60
Spicy & dry
50.52 Tales of the River-bank
£95.90
Old & dignified
76.10 Summer fruit salad with cream
£126.00
Light & delicate
36.64 An old-fashioned sweetie shop
Exclusive to offers
Juicy, oak & vanilla
35.96 Tour of a stately home
£44.70
64.51 Tuck time in a stately home
£87.20
Lightly peated
4.184 Restrained smoke in a gun room
£51.80
Peated
53.195 Smoked ham and pineapple
£60.00
Heavily peated
127.37 Dinosaurs dancing to Stravinsky £52.80
Click on the links above for full tasting notes, or… 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 You Tube video
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Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada “October Outturn” – Scotch Whisky News
October 6th, 2013
The leaves are turning colour, the air is crisp, winter isn’t far away so there’s no better time than now to be blown away by our delicious drams!
We’re pleased to announce the October Outturn:
Cask No. 31.24 Lively as an acrobat
24 years old; refill bourbon hogshead; 54%abv
The nose was as nutty as a pie-eyed professor – macadamias, cashews, almonds, peanuts – savoury too – straw, treacle, honey and smoke. The taste was as lively as an acrobat – powerful flavours of orange peel, coal, treacle, tar and sanded beech wood.
Cask No. 41.54 Takes the biscuit
8 years old; 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel; 58.7%abv
The initially reluctant aromas start as clean and fresh with apple boiled sweets, muesli, old cut flowers, macaroons and milk chocolate. The taste was surprisingly sweet and long. A mix of rich tea biscuits, Wagon Wheels, sweet tea and tropical fruits.
Cask No. G4.2 Attractive spirit in a cloak of oak
28 years old; refill hogshead; 55.4%abv
We found abundant wood on the nose – dunnage warehouses and a French polisher’s workshop – plus corn cobs, tobacco leaf, vanilla, chocolate-coated marshmallows and rum truffles. The palate held our interest – bourbon-like sweetness (butterscotch, chocolate, peanut brittle, caramel) with slightly bitter hints of cocoa powder, tobacco and leather.
Cask No. 24.124 Close to the edge of extreme
23 years old; refill sherry butt; 50.8%abv
The sherry influence dominated the nose – layers of wood and tons of treacle, plus toffee, tobacco, leather, orange and ham cooked in coca-cola. The taste was huge and mouth-drawing – flavours of honeycomb, dark chocolate, salty ham, pipe tobacco, toffee, toasted hazelnuts and oaky tannins.
Cask No. 30.74 Sweet, fruity and rich
11 years old; refill port pipe; 60.3%abv
We found plentiful fruit on the nose (sherry-soaked raisins, strawberry jam, dried cherries, bananas, toffee apples), candy floss, creme brulee, honey, sawdust and Muscat wine. The delightful palate had plum jam on scones, almond cake, peaches, apricots, syrupy figs, Armagnac and a faint whisper of a struck match.
Cask No. 29.126 Protects against vampires
17 years old; refill ex-bourbon barrel; 60%abv
Early nose impressions conveyed fresh hay and canvas, then spun sugar, honey-cured smoked ham, peppered steak, sweet cigar smoke – quite a feast. The palate was hot, fiery, effervescent, robust and earthy – provoking talk about cigars, ginger beer and barbecued meats retrieved from the ashes.
Cask No. 53.169 Invitation to a beach barbecue
18 years old; refill sherry butt; 59.2%abv
The nose invited us to a beach barbecue – bonfire smoke, pork ribs in BBQ sauce, oven-toasted burger buns, fruity chutney, sand, beach balls, buckets and spades. The appetizing palate offered smoked sausage, venison burger, relish, pickled gherkins, jalapenos and pink peppercorns.
For complete tasting notes and information on ordering from our retail partners, please visit www.smws.ca
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Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada “Vancouver Retailer” – Scotch Whisky News
October 6th, 2013
BIG NEWS!!
We are very pleased to announce that we have joined forces with Legacy Liquor Store in Vancouver and our October Outturn bottles will be available there in the coming days.
Legacy will not only be the home of our bottles, but will also host monthly Outturn tastings beginning on Wednesday, November 6th.
We look forward to a strong partnership with Legacy and we encourage you to stop in, say hi to Darryl and the crew and browse their beautiful store.
LEGACY LIQUOR STORE
1633 MANITOBA STREET
VANCOUVER, BC V5Y 0B8
604-331-7900
info@legacyliquorstore.com
www.legacyliquorstore.com
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BALLANTINE’S 12 FINDS THE PERFECT ‘BALLANCE’ – Scotch Whisky News
October 5th, 2013
BALLANTINE’S 12 FINDS THE PERFECT ‘BALLANCE’
Ballantine’s, the No. 1 whisky in Europe, has partnered with award-winning Swedish design trio FRONT to create Ballance, a unique and limited edition serving ritual for its Ballantine’s 12 expression.
Ballance features a series of handcrafted objects which appear suspended in mid-air, creating a super premium design collectible. Comprising five essential items to create the perfect serve of Ballantine’s 12, the sculpture is inspired by the delicate balance of flavours of this popular whisky and the artistry of Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s Master Blender.
The foundation of the Ballance sculpture is a solid oak coaster, inspired by the oak casks used to mature Ballantine’s whiskies. A contemporary, elegant whisky glass balances a trio of pieces; a copper ice bowl, in a tribute to the stills used in the distillery, a square shaped water jug, whose shape mirrors the silhouette of the Ballantine’s 12 bottle, and – precariously balanced at the sculpture’s summit – a copper spoon.
Each element of Ballance has the Ballantine’s 12 by FRONT design collaboration burned, etched or stamped onto it so that they also stand alone as collectibles.
Sofia Lagerkvist of FRONT explains the design inspiration for Ballance: “We spent time with Ballantine’s Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, in Scotland and we learned that his craft is a highly skilled balancing act: first in channeling the influences of nature in ageing this particular Scotch whisky for a minimum of 12 years. Then, in blending Ballantine’s 12, the flavours of an extensive collection of single malts and grains have to be precisely balanced to achieve a consistently smooth finish every time.
“Our design objects often communicate a story about process and, with Ballance, we were inspired by the materials involved in crafting Ballantine’s 12 to create our serving ritual. We also like to prompt curiosity and challenge perception. The magical elements of the sculpture are a stylish, fun and very modern tribute to the alchemic transformation conducted by the Master Blender, whose unique skills have been passed down from generation to generation.”
Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s Master Blender, commented: “It was fascinating spending time with FRONT and exploring our shared passion for excellence. Ballance is as beautiful as it is functional – lending elegance and theatre to the serving ritual. With Ballance, the ultimate aim is for whisky connoisseurs to discover their own perfect balance in enjoying Ballantine’s 12.”
Only 150 units of Ballance will be released. Each set will have a recommended retail selling price of £350 or equivalent (currency dependent). Stockist information can be found at www.ballantines.com.
NOTES
About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No. 2 ultra-premium Scotch whisky in Asia, No. 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 120 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.
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 Scotch.
For further information please visit http://www.chivasbrothers.com/
New Arrivals and Old Favorites Back in Stock at Mora’s Fine Wine & Spirits (E. Setauket, New York) – Scotch Whisky News
October 5th, 2013
New Arrivals and Old Favorites Back in Stock at Mora’s Fine Wine & Spirits (E. Setauket, New York)
The Arran Malt Devil’s Punchbowl Chapter II Single Malt Scotch 106.2 Proof – $134.99 (6 bottles in stock)
Glen Grant Five Decades Single Malt Scotch 92 Proof – $137.99 (6 bottles in stock)
Kilchoman Machir Bay 2013 Single Malt Scotch 92 Proof – $55.99 (6 bottles in stock)
Bowmore 15 Year Old Darkest Single Malt Scotch 86 Proof – $69.95 (3 bottles in stock)
Mora’s Fine Wine & Spirits
631-941-4458
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This and That at K&L California – Whisky News
October 5th, 2013
Scotland – Single Malt Scotch
- Kilchoman 100% Islay 3rd Edition Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 7 available ($84.99)
United States – Bourbon and Rye
- Lock Stock & Barrel 13 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml (one bottle limit) ($119.99)
- Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old Bourbon 750ml – 5 available ($36.99)
- Tuthilltown Hudson Maple Cask Rye (375ml) – 7 available ($49.99)
Artisan Scotch Seminar with Compass Box Whisky at Binny’s Chicago – Scotch Whisky News
October 5th, 2013
COMPASS BOX SEMINAR
October 8th, 6:30-8:30PM
RSVP NOW
Come to the Tasting Room at Binny’s South Loop and meet Scotch Artisan John Glaser. John’s range of whiskies has redefined the idea and practice of blending. John will pour Compass Box whiskies from their Signature Range, as well as experimental batches including a sneak preview of the upcoming Peat Monster Tenth Anniversary bottling and the recently released stunner celebrating the 20th anniversary of Chicago’s own Delilah’s. This tasting has limited seating, so RSVP soon: 312.768.4400.
About John…
“John Glaser is an artist”
– Saveur Magazine
After many years in the wine trade, American ex-pat John Glaser entered the world of Scotch whisky, learning his art through one of the industry’s largest companies. In 2000, he started Compass Box Whisky Company, based on his commitment to evolving practices in the industry to make great Scotch whisky more approachable and relevant to more people. From the beginning, his vision has been to create one of Scotland’s finest and most exciting whisky companies, re-establishing the standards for quality and style in the industry.
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