www.ralfy.com gives an opinion on blended rye with Whisky Review 397 – High West double Rye @ 46% vol.

THE DEFINITIVE SINGLE POT STILL IRISH WHISKEY UNVEILED AS IRISH DISTILLERS LAUNCHES REDBREAST 21 

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has announced the launch of Redbreast 21 Year Old, the pinnacle of the range to date. To celebrate the newest member of the Redbreast Family, Master Blender Billy Leighton hosted a special tasting in London last night. The new expression is the ninth Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey to be added to the Irish Distillers portfolio and arrives after another strong year for the Irish whiskey category.

Redbreast 21 Year Old sits alongside Redbreast 12 Year Old, Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength and Redbreast 15 Year Old to complete the largest-selling and most definitive Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey brand in the world.

As the oldest and richest expression in the decorated Redbreast family, Redbreast 21 Year Old is the finest representation of the brand’s signature sherry style. It is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, triple distilled in copper pot stills and matured in a combination of American Bourbon barrels and first fill Spanish oloroso sherry casks. The 21 year ageing process introduces new levels of depth and flavour, creating an inherently complex and rewarding whiskey.

Whiskey lovers eagerly anticipate the launch of new Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys and Redbreast 21 Year Old, as the oldest age-statement whiskey in the Irish Distillers portfolio, is anticipated to be notably popular and savoured by Irish whiskey enthusiasts. In the US, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey continues to perform strongly, driven primarily by the popularity of Redbreast.

Billy Leighton, Master Blender at Midleton Distillery, said: “Redbreast 21 Year Old is a very special Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and one of which I am immensely proud. Once my team and I tasted the 21 Year Old whiskey, there was never any question about whether we should release a younger expression – the older whiskey showed such stunning levels of depth, flavour and taste, we just had to bring it out for the growing army of Redbreast and Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey fans around the world. We’re really excited to see how Redbreast 21 Year Old is received and we hope Irish whiskey fans will find it as delightful and rewarding to drink as it was for me to craft.”

Brendan Buckley, Global Innovation & Category Development Director at Irish Distillers added: “The increasing global interest in Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is really encouraging and we see great potential for continued growth at the higher end of the Irish whiskey category. With exciting new Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys such as Redbreast 21 Year Old, we hope to satisfy both existing fans of this quintessentially Irish whiskey style and lovers of Irish whiskey in general, to help them understand the unique provenance and outstanding quality that the category has to offer”.
Redbreast 21 Year Old is non-chill filtered at 46% ABV and is available in very limited quantities. The exclusive expression will be available from this month in the USA, France, UK, Ireland and Germany priced at $180.

#Redbreast21

NOTES

Redbreast 21 Year Old Tasting Notes by Master Blender, Billy Leighton 

Nose: Remarkable aroma spanning fresh tropical fruits, nuts and rich dried fruit.

Taste: Soft vanilla, toasted oak, sherry nuttiness with a dusting of Pot Still spices.  Luscious fleshy fruit notes complete the creamy mouth feel.

Finish: Lingers, seemingly forever, to oak and pot still spices and then, the final bow from the Barley – where it all began

About Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is unique to Ireland and to the Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork, in particular. It is regarded as the quintessential style of Irish whiskey and is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, which is then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills within a single distillery. Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys are characterised by full, complex flavours and a wonderful, creamy mouthfeel. The inclusion of unmalted barley to the mashbill along with the tradition of triple distillation defines the character of pot still Irish whiskey and the uniquely Irish approach to whiskey distillation.

The year before the millennium saw many momentous events – Europe launched a single currency, Scotland opened its first parliament in nearly 300 years, and almost half the world witnessed a total solar eclipse.

Whilst these grand events took place our little distillery stowed away a small batch of Oloroso Sherry Casks, waiting patiently with a special purpose in mind. After years of careful monitoring, these casks were selected from Glen Garioch’s revered inventory, right at the peak of their perfection.

The result is Glen Garioch’s Vintage 1999, a Sherry Cask Matured small batch release Non Chill-Filtered to retain Glen Garioch’s signature full-bodied Highland character. Bottled at Cask Strength 56.3% ABV you’ll be greeted by treacle toffee, chocolate and maple syrup with a hint of spice.

To celebrate we’ll be giving away a bottle of our precious Vintage 1999. Simply enter here and answer a simple question.

Compass Box Delilah’s / Limited Release Whisky

This limited release whisky is a homage to Mike Miller’s legendary Chicago punk rock whisky bar Delilah’s which celebrated its 20th anniversary on 29th August 2013.

An intense yet subtly complex Scotch whisky aged in a mix of experimental new American oak barrels and rejuvenated American oak hogsheads. This bestows it with a lovely, intense richness, vanilla character and sweetness.

£46.80 (£39.00 ex vat)

Click here to buy Compass Box Delilah’s Limited Release Whisky

Compass Box Great King Street / Experimental TR-06

The first of two limited experimental batch versions of Great King Street that have been created to help The Compass Box Whisky Company decide which style to permanently launch in 2014. Batch TR-06, (33% grain, 67% malt) is complex, smoky and aromatic with notes of seaweed, mint, salt spray and an underlying dried fruit sweetness.

A one-off limited release.

£28.80 (£24.00 ex vat)

Click here to buy Great King Street Experimental TR-06

Compass Box Great King Street / Experimental 00-V4

The second of two limited experimental batch versions of Great King Street that have been created to help The Compass Box Whisky Company decide which style to permanently launch in 2014.

Batch 00-V4, made from 28% grain and 72% malt whisky is sweet and fruity with notes of blueberry jam, ripe plums, candied oranges and toffee popcorn.

This is a one-off limited release.

£28.80 (£24.00 ex vat)

Click here to buy Compass Box Great King Street Experimental 00-04

Port Ellen Old and Rare 30 year old – limited to only 120 bottles – only available while stocks last!

The Whisky Shop are proud to introduce the stunningly limited single cask Port Ellen Old and Rare 30 year old.

One of only 120 bottles ever produced and bottled at a natural cask strength of 53.9% volume this limited edition will not last long.

A robust peaty leathery nose initially masking a spicy citrus zest.
A strong island feel of peat notes is found at the front of the tongue but a light citrus fruit and honey taste found at the back.
A long finish brings through the light subtle zestiness. An example of this fine Islay whisky.

Simply click here to buy £899.99

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #63

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries an old bottle of Harvey Mackay’s Blended Scotch Whisky. All he knows is that it was bottled in the 1970s. A light, innocent blend, typical of that era’s palate. But quite nice in its own right, as he discovered at the foot of the castle in Lassay Les Chateaux.

http://youtu.be/kXfm_FRrZ78

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US AT

THE BUFFALO BOURBON EMPIRE

A MAD MEN INSPIRED POP-UP BAR
FRIDAY 4th – SATURDAY 19th OCTOBER
34 TAVISTOCK STREET, OPERA QUARTER, LONDON, WC2

Behind the curtain cloaked entrance, discover the spirit of 1960s Americana and the world of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising; the Mad Men. From the sharp suits, to the retro decor, to the classic American cocktails on offer, Buffalo Trace will transport you back to the world of 1960s New York advertising.

So step inside The Buffalo Bourbon Empire, and just like Don, prop yourself on a stool, loosen your tie and order yourself a Buffalo Manhattan.

GLEN GARIOCH LAUNCHES FIRST VINTAGE MATURED SOLELY IN SHERRY CASKS 

Limited Edition Glen Garioch Vintage 1999

Glen Garioch has released its inaugural expression to be matured solely in Oloroso sherry casks, as part of the Highland distillery’s small batch vintage programme.

Hand selected at the peak of perfection, the Glen Garioch Vintage, distilled in 1999 is non-chill filtered to retain its authentic, full-bodied Highland character.

Handcrafted and matured in sherry casks for 14 years at the Highland Distillery in the heart of the rural village of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, this heart-warming dram captures the essence of Scottish Highland charm. The Oloroso sherry casks have influenced this robust spirit to give the malt its dark, sweet fruit, treacle and maple syrup notes and spicy, syrupy taste.

With just 1,000 cases available globally, the Glen Garioch Vintage 1999 is sure to become a favourite with malt enthusiasts when it hits the shelves of specialist whisky and liquor stores from October.

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender for Morrison Bowmore Distillers, said, “This is a full-bodied malt with exquisite rich fruit, chocolate and toffee notes, which really captures the essence of the Highlands.

“Hand picked and bottled at 56.3% ABV to bring out the rich spicy flavours of the Vintage 1999 really showcases the quality of the spirit produced from this small artisan distillery through our limited edition programme.

“This is an exciting small-batch release that encapsulates the rare find that is Glen Garioch itself and I’m sure will be a favourite with any whisky enthusiast.”

Available from selected specialist retailers from the end of September, Glen Garioch Vintage 1999 is bottled at 56.3% ABV will retail at circa £59.99.

Tasting notes:

Walnut brown in colour, the 1999 Vintage is full-bodied and intensely sherried with a syrupy mouth coating texture. Treacle toffee, chocolate and maple syrup soak into the palate, carrying the tingly warmth of nutmeg and ginger spices, tangy orange marmalade and dates into a long, deep finish of raisins, caramelised toffee and liquorice.

NOTES –

Product images are available on request Glen Garioch, pronounced Glen Geery, founded in 1797 is one of the oldest remaining distilleries in Scotland The distillery lies on rising ground at the picturesque town of Oldmeldrum, just 17 miles north-west of Aberdeen Glen Garioch was relaunched in October 2010 with a core range of two single malt whiskies – the Glen Garioch 1797 Founder’s Reserve, a non chill-filtered single malt bottled at 48% ABV and the Glen Garioch 12 Year Old, non chill-filtered single malt bottled at 48% ABV after maturing in bourbon and sherry casks.

Glen Garioch is owned by the Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited which also produce Bowmore and Auchentoshan.

Visit www.glengarioch.com for more information.

NEWSFLASH!!

Greetings Society Members,

Just a quick e-mail to remind you that voting to crown the Ardshiel Hotel winners of the prestigious Scottish Field Whisky Bar of the Year Award closes THIS FRIDAY (4th October). It is a fantastic achievement to make the Top 10 as judged by a panel of whisky experts but now the final vote is down to YOU! It would be a great boost to not only the hotel but for the whole of Campbeltown and surrounding areas.

If you have visited the The Ardshiel I’m sure you will agree that it is genuinely something to behold, with almost 500 different malt whiskies on display (including many rarities and a wide range of Springbank whiskies – past and present) at any one time and getting on for a further 500 in storage. It is a unique collection which is lovingly curated by the owners who are always on hand with expert suggestions and tasting notes to ensure that everyone from the whisky connoisseur to first-time dabbler gets the most out of their visit.

There are two ways that you can vote:

1) Online at www.scottishfield.co.uk/votenow or
2) By emailing your choice to whisky@scottishfield.co.uk

It only takes a few seconds to vote….please please do and please pass this onto anyone else who may consider voting. They are currently sitting in 2nd position…lets get them to number 1 by Friday!

Kind regards from a rainy Campbeltown,

Mairi

Mairi Paterson

For the Springbank Society

To join the Springbank Society please contact them at society@springbankwhisky.com

Abbey Whisky Glass Gift Sets

A selection of our own label malts now available in these charming 10cl bottles, complete with Abbey Whisky tasting glass. These unique whisky gift sets are ideal for anniversaries, birthdays or weddings. The pocket sized bottle fits snugly into most sporrans!

Abbey Whisky 50 Year Old / Glass Gift Set

This 50 year old single malt whisky from Speyside is the oldest and rarest in ‘The Secret Casks’ series. To think this whisky has been slumbering in casks for as long as 50 years is truly amazing, the involvement of the flavours combined, produce a stunning dram.

£67.50 (£56.25 ex vat)

Click here to buy Abbey Whisky 50 Year Old / Glass Gift Set

Abbey Whisky 40 Year Old / Glass Gift Set

The 40 year old whisky is a stunning example of an aged single malt Scotch whisky. 40 years of age, a dram that has beautiful deep flavours that have not been over powered from the long rest in cask. This is a dram that you just can’t get enough of.

£44.50 (£37.08 ex vat)

Click here to buy Abbey Whisky 40 Year Old / Glass Gift Set

Abbey Whisky 30 Year Old / Glass Gift Set

This beautiful 30 year old single malt distilled at secret distillery in Speyside is the youngest dram in our Secret Casks Series. Lots of sweet wonderful flavours combined with ripe golden delicious apples. The flavours get deeper and more intense when the dram warms up a little. It’s not in any way over sweetened; it’s perfectly balanced with great complexity. A dram you could nose all day, lovely!

£28.50 (£23.75 ex vat)

Click here to buy Abbey Whisky 30 Year Old / Glass Gift Set

Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old / The Rare Casks

A wonderful dram (if we do say so ourselves). The natural cask strength of 44% is surprising given its age but once explored it reveals a delicate but perfectly balanced depth of flavour. Warning! This is a very moreish, easy drinking dram that displays all the wonderful characteristics you would expect from a peated Islay malt whisky.

£18.50 (£15.42 ex vat)

Click here to buy Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old / The Rare Casks / Whisky Gift Set

Caperdonich 17 Year Old / The Rare Casks

This magnificent Caperdonich 17 year old was the 1st release in ‘The Rare Casks’ series by Abbey Whisky. This limited edition release was distilled in 1995 and left to rest for 17 years before being bottled in 2012.

£16.50  (£13.75 ex vat)

Click here to buy Caperdonich 17 Year Old / The Rare Casks/ Whisky Gift Set