www.ralfy.com heads eastwards with Whisky Review #384 – Kavalan malt whisky Taiwan Like scotch, but not really like scotch.

Whisky Innovators Team Up to Unveil DELILAH’S –
Limited-Edition Scotch Whisky to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Namesake Chicago Destination

Unique Style of Compass Box Whisky Beckons; a Shot and a Beer, Please!

―Everyone who comes to Delilah‘s knows you can drink your whisky any way you like. It‘s a mutual perspective John Glaser and I share that inspired our collaboration,‖ said Mike Miller, owner of Delilah‘s. I have a deep appreciation and respect for  John‘s philosophy and talents and am honored to mark twenty years of combining great music and great whiskies with a  Compass Box whisky blended uniquely for us and our community.‖ – Mike Miller, Owner of Delilah‘s

LONDON (August 29, 2013) – Through a shared vision that a great whisky should be enjoyable by all, boutique Scotch whiskymaker and craft blenders, Compass Box Whisky Co., and Delilah‘s, Chicago’s legendary punk rock bar recognized as “one of the best whisky bars in the world,” have collaborated to create DELILAH’S – a limited-edition Compass Box blend to celebrate the bar’s 20thanniversary. Only 4,800 bottles of this eponymous craft Scotch whisky will be available in select markets nationwide following its debut at Delilah‘s on “Delilah’s Anniversary Day” August 29, 2013.

DELILAH’s Limited-Edition Blended Scotch Whisky is a combination of single malt and single grain whiskies aged in a mix of experimental new American oak barrels, which give the whisky a delicious sweetness. Bottled at 40%, DELILAH’S has an intense richness yet is subtly complex with honeyed and seductive fruity notes and hints of cereals and vanilla cream.

―Mike wanted a Scotch whisky blend that, in his words, ‗thinks it‘s a Bourbon,‘ so we sourced some single malts aged in new American oak hogsheads, something that‘s very hard to find in Scotland,‖ said John Glaser, Compass Box founder and whiskymaker. ―The result is a Scotch blend with a big, luscious vanilla-oak character that has echoes of Bourbon flavor yet makes it dangerously easy to drink neat and perfect served as a shot with a beer—the way a lot of whisky is enjoyed at Delilah‘s!‖

Just as this commemorative whisky is a twist on more traditional Scotch whiskies, so too Compass Box has used it to create a twist on the Mint Julep, perfectly refreshing to celebrate summer and Delilah‘s anniversary:

Delilah’s Julep
2 oz Delilah’s whisky
1/3 oz honey syrup
10 mint leaves
Crushed ice

Fill glass with crushed ice, add whisky and syrup. Rub mint leaves around rim of glass before mixing in.

Delilah’s Anniversary Day – Thursday, August 29th, 2013 #DelilahsWhisky

In the spirit of Miller’s direction and with the support of their local communities, a celebration dubbed “Delilah’s Day” will take place August 29th at Delilah’s unveiling the namesake Scotch whisky along with artwork by eight local artists who have each created a one-of-a-kind piece inspired by their own personal connections with Delilah’s. Artists include painters Tom Billings, Jon Langford, Emily Rapport, Joey Lala and Erica Huntzinger. Their works will be on display at the bar through Thursday, October 3rd.

The evening would be incomplete without the music that made Delilah’s known as one of the best rock bars in Chicago and beyond. DJ and bar owner Casino El Camino from Austin, TX, a longtime friend and inspiration for Miller and his own bar, will be spinning throughout the night. Other DJs will include Jump Up! Records’ Ska, Reggae DJ Chuck Wren, and a visit from Fisto the Clown.

In addition to being served at the iconic bar itself, DELILAH’S will be available from September 1st for approximately $65 (750ml) at fine liquor store locations nationwide, including Binny’s in Chicago. For more information on DELILAH’s whisky and Delilah’s Anniversary Day, visit www.compassboxwhisky.com and www.delilahschicago.com.

ABOUT JOHN GLASER – American ex-pat John Glaser started Compass Box Whisky Company from the kitchen of his west London home in 2000. Having started his career on a path to become a winemaker, then re-routing himself through the corporate world and ending up as marketing director for Johnnie Walker in London, Glaser has a unique perspective on both the creation and the marketing of Scotch whisky.

Glaser established Compass Box 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.

ABOUT COMPASS BOX (www.compassboxwhisky.com) – The Compass Box Whisky Company is a boutique Scotch whiskymaker and craft blender, started in 2000 by John Glaser. Compass Box produces and bottles a range of Scotch whiskies, available in over 25 countries around the world. A four-time winner of the Whisky Magazine Innovator of the Year award, Compass Box is known throughout the whisky world for quality, innovation and passion for great whisky. The Compass Box signature range of whiskies includes Asyla, Oak Cross, The Peat Monster, The Spice Tree and Hedonism. They also produce limited release whiskies annually, and Orangerie, a Scotch whisky infusion. Their latest creation is a groundbreaking range of Blended Scotch whiskies called Great King Street. The first in the range is Artist‘s Blend.

ABOUT MIKE MILLER – Mike Miller has been the owner and operator of Delilah’s in Chicago since 1993. Writer, designer, film maker, teacher, spirits judge and world traveler, Mike let’s his interests and discoveries guide him and his business decisions – determined to offer to the world his vision of fun by bringing different elements of life and art together to create an ever evolving canvas. Miller also plays pinball at and operates Bottom Lounge, a live music venue he opened in 2008 in Chicago’s West Loop.

ABOUT DELILAH’S (www.delilahschicago.com) – Delilah’s has been Chicago’s premiere cavern tavern since it opened in 1993. Delilah’s is open every night of the year and features nightly Rock and Roll DJs, local art exhibitions, film screenings and a world class selection of beer and spirits – including more than 600 whiskies! Delilah’s has been recognized internationally for its selection of whiskies, its juke box, its special custom whiskey releases and for its overall atmosphere – Esquire’s Best Dark Bar in America!

British beer and whiskey writer Michael Jackson said “Delilah’s is the most important bar in America.”

 DELILAH’S

Limited Edition

Blended Scotch Whisky

• Delilah’s is a Limited Release Compass Box homage to Delilah’s, Mike Miller’s legendary punk rock whisky bar in Chicago, to celebrate the bar’s 20th anniversary in 2013.

• The whisky was developed jointly by John Glaser and Mike Miller as an expression of their shared vision that great whisky should be enjoyable by all.

•Delilah’s is an intense yet subtly complex Scotch whisky aged in a mix of experimental new American oak barrels and rejuvenated American oak hogsheads.

• It has been created to be perfect served as a shot with a beer.

If you like whisky and you like to have fun, you will love Delilah’s, which has been voted many times “Best whisky bar in America”.

At Delilah’s you can drink your whisky any way you like. In classic American style, you will always find an evening special for a “shot and a beer”…

…Which is the inspiration for this whisky. We’ve created a Scotch whisky that works perfectly as a shot with a beer. To achieve this, we have chosen a combination of single malt and single grain whiskies, all of which have been aged in American oak casks, some of which were new. So you get lovely, intense richness, vanilla character and sweetness. It’s an unusual style for Scotch whisky, but one that we think is absolutely delicious drunk as a shot along with a beer.

Happy 20th Anniversary to Mike Miller and Delilah’s!

John Glaser, Whiskymaker

Availability; Limited Release of 6,324 bottles Bottled in July 2013.

Flavour Descriptors; Rich and sweet, with intense yet subtly complex, honeyed and seductive fruity notes, cereals and vanilla-cream.

Recommendations; Delicious drunk as a shot along with a beer or sipped neat with chilled water to taste.

Distillery Sourcing; Single malts from the towns of Alness and Longmorn (approx 50% of the recipe); single grain whisky from Fife (approx 50% of the recipe).

Bottling Details; Bottled at 40%. Not chill filtered. Natural colour.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Tenth Round of Single Oak Project Bourbon

New Barrel is in the Lead for Favorite

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug. 2013) – Buffalo Trace Distillery releases the tenth round of the Single Oak Project Bourbon and there are new barrels in the lead!  Barrel number 106 has been knocked off its perch, and instead, barrel number 59 is currently in the lead, with barrels number 92 and number 188 respectively, close behind.

This tenth release in the Single Oak Project focuses on different entry proofs, and is an excellent opportunity to compare the wheat and rye recipes at two different proofs entered into the barrel, 105 proof and 125 proof.  The wood grain size varies on this release between coarse, average or tight, but all other variables remain constant, such as char level, tree cut, stave seasoning, and aging warehouse.

So far, more than 2,800 industry expert and consumer reviews have been logged online at www.singleoakproject.com with many reviewers tasting and scoring multiple bottles.  But Buffalo Trace Distillery encourages more people to get involved with the project and try their hand at reviewing.

“We’re not expecting everyone who participates to own and taste all 196 bottles. With just a few bottles, one can experience and learn the subtle differences and discover more about their own taste preferences,” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director.  “It’s an excellent opportunity to find out if your preference is for wheat or rye recipe bourbons, and a higher or lower entry proof. Moving forward, insights like these can help you be a more knowledgeable bourbon connoisseur and help you in your bourbon selection.”

The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.

To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof.  And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors.  In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.

For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!

The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first release hit select stores in 2011.  This tenth release will reach stores towards the end of August. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The ninth release is made up of barrel numbers 9, 25, 41, 57, 73, 89, 105, 121, 137, 153, 169, and 185. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.

At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated Single Oak Project Bourbon and make more just like it, under the Single Oak name.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1786 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

THIS SUMMER JOIN THE BUFFALO COCKTAIL TRAIL AND TRY SCOTLAND’S BEST BARREL-AGED COCKTAILS

SCOTLAND’S BEST BARTENDERS

This summer, 9 of Scotland’s top bartenders have been tasked with creating a unique cocktail using the distinct barrel-ageing technique, with either Buffalo Trace White Dog un-aged spirit or the hallmark bourbon of the Buffalo Trace Distillery, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

Each bar has been presented with a hand crafted bar-top miniature barrel made of the same oak used at the world-renowned Buffalo Trace Distillery. Their creation has to be aged in the barrel for a minimum of 24 hours, to ensure the cocktail offers an enhanced taste experience, which will then be judged by a panel of drink experts in Edinburgh on 12 August 2013.

WINNING RECIPE

All 9 of the creative cocktails, including the crowned winner, will be available on the cocktail list at the bar in which it is designed until February next year as part of the Buffalo Trail. The Buffalo Trail gives you a chance to sample and savour each of these bespoke cocktails that have been created by Scotland’s top bartenders, infusing and integrating rich flavours from the barrel-ageing process.

THE THINKING DRINKERS

To coincide with the Buffalo Trail in Edinburgh, you can also sample the range of Buffalo Trace bourbons throughout August at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where they will be featuring as part of The Thinking Drinkers Guide to Alcohol – a hilarious celebration of alcohol’s influence on life, love and literature from award-winning drink experts duo, Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham. Tickets for this highly coveted and not-to-be-missed show are £10. www.thinkingdrinkers.com

BUFFALO TRACE KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON

On the banks of the famous Kentucky River where the buffalo crossed on their ancient westerly migratory route, Buffalo Trace is distilled, aged and bottled at the most award-winning distillery in the world.  Crafted with the finest Kentucky and Indiana corn, selected rye and superior malted barley, this bourbon is aged in new oak barrels for 8 – 12 years in century old warehouses until the peak of maturity, determined by our Master Blender Drew Mayville.

For more information visit: http://buffalotrace.co.uk/barrel-ageing/

www.buffalotrace.com

We at Single Malts Direct are proud to continue our long relationship with Runrig by bottling this exclusive cask of Glen Grant 1995 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of Scotland’s musical treasures. The limited edition of 250 bottles will be available exclusively online at www.singlemaltsdirect.com from Saturday 10th August.

CLICK TO PURCHASE £85.00

BenRiach 1994 Single Cask 286 19 Year Old UK Exclusive

70cl / 57.6% Vol

A very exciting release as this is the 1st UK exclusive single cask from BenRiach to be launched in the last few years. Single cask #286, a peated malt was distilled in 1994 and aged in a single hogshead for 19 years. Bottled at cask strength in 2013.

Very limited, only 215 bottles filled.

Official Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Deep harvest gold.

Nose: Intense waves of spiced oak with creamy vanilla over apricots and peaches, all backed by a delicate, sweet honeyed peat.

Palate: A combination of delicate soft fruits and sweet oak spices, covered by dramatic bursts of intense wood smoke, which mellow and mingle with hints of melon and pineapple in the lasting after-note.

RRP – £83.99

Abbey Whisky – £76.25 (£63.54 ex vat)

Click here to buy BenRiach Single Cask 286 UK Exclusive

Kilchoman 100% Islay 3rd Edition

Kilchoman 100% Islay 3rd Edition, a vatting of four and five year old fresh bourbon casks. Every part of crafting this very special malt; the barley growing, distillation, maturation to bottling was completed at Kilchoman Distillery, Islay.

100% Islay 3rd Edition Tasting Notes…

Nose: Floral and delicate with a mix of soft fruits and pear drops.

Palate: The peat smoke explodes in the mouth with sweet soft mixed fruit very evident.

Finish: A long sweet lingering finish with a soft peaty after taste.

£54.95 (£45.79 ex vat)

Click here to buy Kilchoman 100% Islay 3rd Edition

Kilchoman 100% Islay 3rd Edition

Kilchoman Distillery was founded in 2005 and is the first distillery to be built on Islay for 120 years. It is a farm distillery and a proportion of the barley used in production is grown and malted at the distillery. The spirit is filled into a combination of bourbon barrels from Buffalo Distillery, Kentucky, USA and oloroso sherry butts from Miguel Martin in Spain. This is the third 100% Islay release from Kilchoman and has been produced from barley grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery. It has been aged for 4 years in a combination of fresh and refill bourbon barrels.

Product Description

Nose: Floral and delicate with a mix of soft fruits and pear drops
Palate: The peat smoke explodes in the mouth. Sweet soft mixed fruits are very evident.
Finish: A long sweet lingering finish with a soft peaty aftertaste.

Buy Now! £59.99

AUCHENTOSHAN CELEBREATES INNOVATION WITH ITS

FIRST VIRGIN OAK MATURED EXPRESSION

August 2013: Auchentoshan, Scotland’s only triple distilled Single Malt Scotch Whisky, is launching an exclusive limited edition – Auchentoshan Virgin Oak. This complex, non-chill filtered dram is Auchentoshan’s first ever single malt to be solely matured in virgin North American oak casks, wood that is previously untouched by any spirit.

Intuition and industry knowledge led the team at Auchentoshan to believe they could challenge the firmly entrenched belief that Scotch whisky must be matured in ex-bourbon or sherry casks. Since the millennium, Auchentoshan has placed small batches of the unique, triple distilled spirit in virgin North American oak whose charred surfaces have held neither bourbon nor sherry.

Time and patience revealed the whisky, which had spent its maturation in this virgin oak, to possess a deep orange colour with spiced apple and candied notes as well as layer upon layer of complexity.

Established in 1823, Auchentoshan triple distils every drop meaning the spirit produced reaches 81.5% ABV, significantly higher than most distilleries in Scotland. It is this smooth distillate paired with the carefully selected oak casks that gives Auchentoshan an unmistakably light and fruity flavour. Auchentoshan’s inventive approach to whisky production has led the brand to embrace innovative ideas and processes such as maturing whisky in virgin oak. 

Auchentoshan Brand Ambassador Gordon Dundas said: “Auchentoshan is one of the few distilleries to produce a virgin oak Single Malt. The lightness of the triple distilled spirit makes it perfectly suited to absorbing the unique qualities of the charred virgin oak casks. The result is a lowland whisky that is subtle as well as complex in nature.”

Boasting the same classically modern livery as a number of its Auchentoshan Limited Edition peers, the Auchentoshan Virgin Oak packaging is refined yet impactful. The contemporary typography is bright white against the classic grey background of the carton and gives the pack a premium contemporary feel. One that reflects Auchentoshan’s classically modern approach.

Tasting notes:

To the eye: Sienna orange.

To the nose: Cinnamon and nutmeg, toasted vanilla and candied orange.

To the tongue: Spiced apple, smooth chocolate caramel, maple candy and a velvety mouth feel.

The finish: Warm with spiced orange and brown sugar.

Available from specially selected retailers from the end of July at £69.99 / ABV: 46%

For more information visit http://www.auchentoshan.co.uk/

UK Distributor: Cellar Trends on 01283 217703 or auchentoshan@cellartrends.co.uk

Notes

Auchentoshan – The Modern Classic

–        A traditional and authentic single malt, distilled three times and matured in the finest wood

–        A whisky produced with passion and enriched with heritage

–        Favours the classic but with a nod to the contemporary

–        It’s a combination of two worlds; old and new

–        It’s a throwback to the future

–        It’s style not fashion

–        The very best of the past with the very best of the present…

As Glasgow’s closest Distillery, Auchentoshan is truly unique as it is the only distillery to use a third still in the whisky making process. It means Auchentoshan is the only Single Malt Scotch whisky to triple distil every single drop. This third distillation takes the new spirit to 81.5% ABV (not 70% which is achieved through only distilling twice) making it the highest distillate of any Scottish distillery. The result is a light and delicate single malt of unmistakable smoothness.

Awards 2011

IWSC

–      Gold Medal, 1975 Bourbon

–      Best in Class Silver, 18YO

–      Best in Class Silver, Classic

International Spirits Challenge

–      Silver Media, 1975 Bourbon

–      Silver Medal, Valinch

–      Silver Medal, Three Wood

Scottish Design Awards

–      Best Packaging – Auchentoshan Travel Retail Award

Awards 2012

San Francisco Spirits Competition

–      Double Gold Medal, Three Wood

–      Silver Medal, Classic

–      Silver Medal, 12YO

World Whiskies Awards:

–      Best Lowland – Auchentoshan 1999 Wine Matured

Ultimate Spirits Challenge:

–      94 points/Excellent-Highly Recommended  – Auchentoshan Three Wood

Ultimate Cocktail Challenge:

–      Chairman’s Trophy – Best Scotch Whisky in a classic Rusty Nail cocktail – Auchentoshan Three Wood

Save Lars Whisky – the Limited Fan Edition!

You recently read about the Save Lars Whisky from Belgian whisky vlogger Mark Dermul. He was met with so much response that he has decided, together with his pal Imanuel Dijk, to release 50 more bottles from this exceptional cask.

The Save Lars Whisky Limited Fan Edition can be preordered through this website: www.markdermul.be/savelarswhisky. But you will have to hurry as the bottling is limited and bottles are going fast.

Price 99 EUR + shipping.

May the Malt be with you!