Ralfy Publishes Whisky Review #381 – Scotch Whisky News
August 1st, 2013
www.ralfy.com takes the bull by the horns (groan!) with Whisky Review 381 – Black Bull 12yo scotch
Archive for 2013
LAGAVULIN™ WILL SPONSOR ISLAY JAZZ FESTIVAL IN SEPTEMBER – Scotch Whisky News
July 31st, 2013
LAGAVULIN™ WILL SPONSOR ISLAY JAZZ FESTIVAL IN SEPTEMBER
by Pat Roberts
Lagavulin™ Single Malt Scotch Whisky will again be the headline sponsor of the Islay Jazz Festival in 2013, the brand’s owner Diageo has announced.
The Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival, which this year will take place from 13-15 September, attracts hundreds of jazz lovers, from Scotland and further afield, to the world-famous whisky island on Scotland’s west coast.
This is now the fifteenth year that the Festival has been held on Islay, and the fourth year that the Festival has been sponsored by Lagavulin, whose continued backing has enabled the Festival to develop into the success story that it is today.
Special Bottling
This year will also see another edition of the much-acclaimed special Islay Jazz Festival limited-edition bottling of Lagavulin, which will be released during the Festival.
The distillery manager at Lagavulin, Georgie Crawford, said
“This is now the fourth year of our sponsorship of this excellent Festival. The island’s economy really gains from the extension of the season. Another bonus has been the discovery that the Malt Mill at Lagavulin has great acoustics for live music! And the last four years have brought many more visitors from neighbouring countries, reflecting continental European interest in jazz, and many more ‘whisky tourists’ too. We are delighted to welcome them to Islay and to Lagavulin.”
Once again there is an extraordinary line-up of leading international and Scottish musicians who will gather for what many regard as the jewel in the Scottish jazz calendar. Leading European drummer Magnus Öström brings his sweeping cinematic soundscapes to play at Lagavulin distillery’s Malt Mill and Bruichladdich Hall. ECM superband Trio Libero blend folk melodies, infectious grooves, and ambient Nordic cool. Making waves on the UK jazz scene, pianist Kit Downes debuts his Trio at Islay. The master of American Stride piano, Stephanie Trick delivers ragtime and boogie-woogie classics. The Festival has also formed a super Islay trio featuring musicians who are regular visitors to the Festival: bassist Mario Caribe, trumpeter Colin Steele, and guitarist Graeme Stephen. Local vocal star Sheena Swanson presents a brand new band comprising five Islay musicians.
Notes
The Islay Jazz Festival
The Festival is promoted by specialist jazz promoters, Jazz Scotland, and The Islay Arts Association, and receives funding from Argyll and Bute Council and Creative Scotland.
The Festival has been running since 1999. Since then the Festival has promoted musicians from over 25 countries and presented fifteen world premieres and is today regarded as a significant jazz event in the UK calendar.
Programme details can be seen on the Islay Jazz Festival website http://www.islayjazzfestival.co.uk/. The events of the Festival are spread over three days and many venues on Islay.
Diageo’s famous Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Lagavulin™ first sponsored the Festival in 2010.
About Diageo
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan’s and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/.
For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com .
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
The LAGAVULIN word and associated logos are trade marks. © Diageo 2013
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Scotch Malt Whisky Society “August Previews: Compare and Contrast” – Scotch Whisky News
July 31st, 2013
August Previews: Compare and Contrast
You may have good reason to think that two Society drams will be similar, but this is the beauty of single cask whisky: despite matching regions, casks, ages or even distilleries, no two are alike. We’ve created an exceptional new Islay pairing and picked two distinctive Speyside previews from the August Outturn to illustrate the point…
36.66 Springtime in a glass
10yo First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Speyside Spey, £44.10
The nose was light, even elusive, but we eventually discovered the fresh heart of it – grassy meadows, pear, crisp white wine, light candy, pine, strawberry tart, spring flowers, elderflower cordial, apples, heather and gorse – springtime in a glass; bright, floral and refreshing… Buy 
76.107 A Moroccan tagine
24yo Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Speyside Spey, £79.00
A rich and meaty/fruity example of the famously rich make from Dufftown’s oldest distillery. The mellow first nose is of macerated dried fruits (dark cherries, raisins, figs), edging towards fruit flan; behind this light wax (furniture polish), with cinnamon and nutmeg. The texture is big and mouth-coating; the taste both sweet and savoury… Buy
NEW! Two Faces of Islay Pair – only £125
So similar on paper, yet so diferent to experience.
Buy
53.169 Invitation to a beach barbecue
18yo Refill ex-sherry butt
The nose invited us to a beach barbecue – bonfire smoke, pork ribs in BBQ sauce, over-toasted burger buns, brown sauce… More
29.123 Hang-gliding over Islay
20yo Refill ex-sherry butt
On the nose, we found toffee, caramel, butterscotch, coconut, vanilla, snowdrops and even silverware cleaner – but no smoke… More
Last chance to snap up our July offers!
Doubles Game PAIR: 9.72 & 76.103 for £125
48 available… Buy
Grand Slam TRIO: 76.103, 64.47 & 29.138 for £179
40 available… Buy
July CASE Offer: 4.177, 48.37, G1.11, 3.204
9.72 & 76.103 for £329
2 available… Buy
Browse July Outturn
*76.103 is exclusive to our July offers
*64.47 is exclusive to our July Trio
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.
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The Famous Grouse Birthday – Scotch Whisky News
July 31st, 2013
To mark The Famous Grouse Brand Birthday we are delighted to invite you to celebrate with us at The Famous Science Festival. Come along on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of August to visit our giant whisky cask and take part in a host of interactive science experiments. There’s fun for all the family with treasure hunts, tours and blend your own whisky sessions.
As well as The Famous Science Festival, there will be a brand new blending experience open to guests over the weekend giving whisky lovers the chance to try their hand at blending their own whisky.
EVENTS 2013 – 2014
August
THE FAMOUS GROUSE BIRTHDAY
Come and celebrate our birthday this August. The Famous Science Festival will pop up at The Famous Grouse Experience in Crieff for two days only, bringing a host of intriguing experiments and fascinating investigations for all the family. All visitors to the distillery over the weekend will have free access to The Famous Science Festival. August 10th and August 11th 10am-6pm.
November/December
CHRISTMAS FAYRE WEEKEND WITH SANTA
Stock up with food, crafts and gifts. November 30th and December 1st 10am-6pm.
SANTA’S GROTTO
Come and meet Santa in our snow filled grotto. December 14th and 15th, 21st and 22nd 1pm-4.30pm. December 23rd and 24th 10am-4.30pm.
Visit the blog http://blog.thefamousgrouse.com for full info on all of our upcoming events.
Famous Best Wishes,
Lucy Whitehall
The Famous Grouse Global Brand Ambassador
Smooth Ambler 10 Year Old “Old Scout” Straight Bourbon Whiskey at D&M California – American Whiskey News
July 31st, 2013
Smooth Ambler 10 Year Old “Old Scout” Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This little bourbon lives up to it’s name, Smooth. The nose is alive with orange peel, pekoe tea and coconut. The palate has a rich vanilla feel, with sweat and spicey notes. A bit of spearmint and white pepper notes follow on the finish. You can not tell that this is bottled at 100 proof.
Very enjoyable!
D&M Price – $49.99
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T.B.Watson “Drambusters” Update – Scotch Whisky News
July 31st, 2013
WE ARE NOW ABLE TO SHIP OVERSEAS (INCLUDING THE US & CANADA). CURRENTLY A MAXIMUM OF 4 BOTTLES APPLIES WHILE THIS SERVICE SETTLES DOWN.
It’s getting closer! Have you got your ticket yet? They can be purchased in the shop and online at www.drambusters.com Tickets will be posted out after August. As last year, there will be a free shuttle bus that runs back to the town from 3.30pm for those that are requiring it. Tea, coffee, sandwiches and soup will all be available throughout the day for sustenance.
Click here for the local bus timetable to get you to the venue
Whisky Wednesday Reviews Amrut Fusion – Indian Whisky News
July 31st, 2013
UK vlogger Joe Ellis a.k.a Whisky Wednesday reviews Amrut Fusion Indian Single Malt.
Jura Releases Virtual Tasting of Unreleased Dram – Scotch Whisky News
July 30th, 2013
Jura whisky is providing fans with a unique opportunity to experience a virtual tasting of an unreleased dram, thanks to an illustrative video which captures the taste and flavour of its new 40 year old malt.
The 39¾ – a preview of the soon to be released Jura 40 year old malt – was exclusively sampled to visitors at the Jura Whisky Festival, an established event in the annual “Fèis Ìle” (Islay Whisky Festival) which took place in May. Artist Robbie’s Brown Shoes, of the Puck Collective, has visually captured the tasting session led by Jura’s Global Brand Ambassador Willie Tait, as well as the responses and opinions of those who were lucky enough to taste the vintage malt.
Breaking the mould of traditional whisky tastings, Robbie has brought Willie’s words to life in a short film and accompanying illustrations in his own distinctive style. As well as taking viewers through the history of Jura whisky, Robbie captures the scents of pineapple, coffee beans and old English marmalade and the tastes of manuka honey, sultanas and amaretto liqueur, which can all be savoured in the release.
Jura’s loyal fans will now have the chance to experience the new malt, when the short film is released online from Thursday, 25 July. As well as enjoying a preview of the malt, Jura’s Twitter followers will also have the chance to win a rare sample of the 39¾, in return for retweeting the video.
Willie Tait, Global Brand Ambassador for Jura said:
“The initial response from those who were lucky enough to sample the 39¾ was one of absolute joy! Although we’re sadly unable to provide all of our customers with an exclusive tasting, it’s great to be able to share a preview of this malt in such an innovative way. This is certainly the first time I have ever seen a tasting brought to life with images rather than words. Robbie has done an amazing job of capturing my notes on the new malt and summing up the experiences of all those who attended the festival. However, anyone wishing to snap up a bottle of the Jura 40 year old will have to wait a while longer, as it’s not scheduled to be released until spring 2014.”
About Jura
The history of whisky distillingon Jura
The story of whisky distilling on Jura is a colourful tale of deceit, hardship and heroism. Over 400 years ago illicit distilling was rife on the island, until in 1781 when meddling politicians introduced a ban on illegal distillation that effectively brought an end to whisky distilling on Jura.
The Jura distillery was founded in 1810 by the then Laird, Archibald Campbell, but over the years it began to fall into a state of disrepair. However, the early 1960’s signalled a new era of good fortune for the distillery when two locals, Robin Fletcher (owner of the Ardlussa Estate) and Tony Riley-Smith (owner of Jura house) rebuilt it, not only bringing back this magical malt, but also creating jobs on the island.
In 1963, architect William Delme-Evans worked with Fletcher and Riley-Smith to introduce tall, elegant stills into the distillery and it is those very same stills that continue to produce the precious amber malt to this day.
There are five classic bottlings in the Jura Collection, each with their own distinctive flavour profiles: the light and delicate Origin 10; the rich and full bodied Diurachs’ Own 16 year old; fruity and spicy Elixir, and Superstition and Prophecy which are lightly and heavily peated respectively.
To find out more visit www.jurawhisky.com
The illustration of the Jura 39¾ tasting session created by Robbie’s Brown Shoes
Click above to view and share the Jura 39¾ illustrated tasting.
For more information on the Jura 40 year old please visit www.jurawhisky.com
Whisky Fun is 11 Years Old Today! – Amazing Whisky News!
July 30th, 2013
A note from Serge at Whisky Fun;
“So, today this little website is 11 and we’re publishing our 9,000th tasting notes. I made sure we’d celebrate both ‘events’ at the same time and so make big savings ;-). Mind you, nothing too important, next year should be bigger, I’ll try to post our 10,000 notes when WF is 12, that’ll have more cachet and, hopefully, panache!” … (Please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)….
Bunnahabhain 24 Year Old (49.8%) At The Whisky Barrel – Scotch Whisky News
July 30th, 2013
Bunnahabhain 24 Year Old (49.8%)
Single Sherry Butt #4111
Bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd, single cask expression of the Islay malt distilled 1988.
(…plus a few bottles of 21 Year Old Cask #19 still available… $103.45)
