New Zealand Whisky Company calling designers with flair

Oamaru, New Zealand– July, 2013 – The New Zealand Whisky Company is thrilled to launch its 25-year-old whisky, only the fourth nation to produce a 25-year-old Single Malt. To celebrate, the company is asking creative designers worldwide to conceive its’ packaging; and all to benefit a big New Zealand charity.

To mark this milestone, designers are invited to enter this international competition. “So much whisky is being packaged in luxurious enclosures, lavish boxes and crystal decanters nowadays, but we want something that is elegant, eye-catching and authentically New Zealand; sustainable, re-usable, perhaps even recyclable. I’m not comfortable with how much money, carbon and landfill is wasted on whisky packaging, and would love for our whisky enclosure to be re-usable and a lasting memory to a memorable malt,” Ramsay says.

So the challenge is on for designers across universities, design agencies, art houses and more, to design a suitable bottle and box label for this exclusive release. Designers can create their own theme. It could be classic, quirky or just fun, perhaps honouring Cyril Yates who worked at the distillery for near on 25-years, ‘Cyril’s Single Malt; 25years of blood, sweat and cheers.’

“We really want to capture the heart of the New Zealand Whisky Collection in this label,” explains Ramsay, “in a way that pays homage to the rich heritage of our whisky and blends this with a freshly modern style. We’re so excited to see what comes through with the creative talent available in this country. We have three bottles; 700ml, 375ml and a 150ml hipflask requiring packaging.”

Designer Prize and Donation to the Christchurch Cathedral Restoration

The winner receives international exposure as well as a complimentary trip to the Cellar Door in New Zealand; and an important New Zealand charity is also set to be a ‘winner’.

“We’re going to be donating the design fee that we would have saved, to the Christchurch Cathedral restoration,” says Ramsay, who has a special connection with the Cathedral. “My Great Uncle was construction foreman on the Cathedral back in the 1800s, and I’m so excited to see the design competition for its restoration.”

“I’m really hoping that the fabulous modern interpretation gets the nod. Like our whisky packaging, it would be a fresh style for a forward-looking community, while paying homage to the site’s significant history. I hope lots of Cantabrians are viewing the options and having their say at http://www.cathedralconversations.co.nz/.

The New Zealand Whisky Collection’s 25-year-old whisky release was distilled in 1988 at the famous Willowbank distillery in Dunedin. It has been maturing in American Oak barrels since 1987 and is a single malt whisky.

Entry into Competition

Entrants are encouraged to become familiar with the New Zealand Whisky Company and gain inspiration from the World Whiskies Design Awards that are held annually. Past and present design winners can be viewed at http://www.worldwhiskiesdesignawards.com/.

For more information about the competition and to enter, visit http://www.thenzwhisky.com/, The Whisky Shop in Auckland, or WhiskyGalore in Christchurch.

Contact:

Alice Hansen

Mob: 0417818180

Email: ah24241@gmail.com

DIRECTOR’S CUT Tasting Notes:

DIR0047 MACALLAN 15 YEARS
Nose: Opens fresh & fragrant carrying a honey’d quality – developing to sweet grist plus light oak
Palate: More honey on the sweet palate + vanilla fudge, camphor & an attractive citric style
Finish: Still fresh, now gently spiced – with more camphor and fudge (F&J)

PROVENANCE Tasting Notes follow:

PRV0685 DALMORE 11 YEARS
Opens clean on the nose, carrying a green malt character plus a honey and fruit quality. The palate is light and fresh, running to an American Cream Soda style. The finish is medium long, softly spiced with a lingering orange pith character.

PRV0993 AUCHENTOSHAN 12 YEARS
Fragrant, floral and lightly fruited initially on the nose – warming up to subtle barley, spices and caster sugar. The palate shows that same sugary sweetness then runs to a liquorice and light oak style–with the finish encapsulating all of those characteristics-but in a drier mode (F)

PRV1001 LAPHROAIG 12 YEARS
Initially the nose is surprisingly sweet carrying a subtle bonfire ashes character plus a charred fruit quality. The palate is distinctly Islay in style, still sweet with smoke building up to soft tar, BBQ ashes plus smoked bacon. The finish is long, remains smoky and develops to a rich, dark chocolate character. (J)

PRV0999 BLAIR ATHOL SHERRY 15 YEARS
Opens clean and fresh on the nose then develops to a sweetly spiced character with a barley sugar quality. The palate remains sweet and warms to a spiced caramel/butterscotch style plus a late hint of charred oak. The finish is long and runs drier to a chocolate and orange zest quality. (J)

PRV0998 BENRINNES SHERRY 18 YEARS
Opens spicy and sweetly gristed on the nose, then runs to a cookie dough and toffee character. The palate is richly spiced carrying a butterscotch and soft leather quality. The finish is medium long, still spicy and sweet carrying late fresh pipe tobacco. (J)

All best wishes
Fred H Laing
Managing Director

A wee snippet from Paul McLean, over in Scotland.

A friend of mine dropped by Tim Prokopov frae Moscow, I had been storing a few bottles and things for him, as he is an avid collector (and likes to sample) of whisky.

As he had promised (ages ago) he brought me a special bottle as a gift; his own make!

Ages back whilst in Scotland he bought a wee still and the equipment to make his own whisky back home in Russia. The bottle he brought me is really quite unique, it is one bottle of only eight in the world!

Although he cannee call it whisky – as it is 18 months old – it has that look and feel of whisky, upon tasting – aye well you have to do it eh! – I just didnt know what to think? It has that whisky taste, a good whisky taste, a heavy sherry Speyside or so, hard to put a name to the taste, bearing in mind it is still only 18 months old, but boy, did it have a grand nose and finish!

I had opened it as required by Tim, can I say it tasted somewhat like a very good Jamaican rum, mixed somewhere with a good sherry Speyside, it is certainly not what I would call “new make”.

You can see in the photo, I did sample this (ok, in a Clontarf glass!) and have enjoyed it.  See the close up shot of the label, it says it all, better than I can.

I am certainly lucky to get one of these bottles, so many thanks go to Tim, we are friends from a long time back, when he first started his many whisky tours here with us.

Here endeth the story, a really good dram of ???  spirit!

Paul McLean

owner www.mcleanscotland.com

also  www.angelswhiskyclub.com

UK vlogger Joe Ellis a.k.a Whisky Wednesday reviews The Benriach 1995 17 Year Old The Whisky Shop Exclusive Bottling

http://youtu.be/tJKScpwornI

http://Facebook.com/whiskytube

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

KILCHOMAN IS ISLAY BEST SELLER FOR WHISKY SHOP

A partnership between The Whisky Shop and Kilchoman distillery has seen record sales of the malt making it The Whisky Shop’s best-selling Islay malt by value.

Sales of the malt have overtaken other Islay products, driven in particular by The Whisky Shop stocking an exclusive Kilchoman single cask.

Built in 2005, Kilchoman is the first distillery to be established on Islay in over 124 years.  It is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland with an annual production of approximately 100,000 litres of alcohol.

It is one of only six distilleries to carry out traditional floor maltings, using barley grown on the distillery farm.  Islay was chosen as the location for the distillery because of its reputation worldwide for producing top quality malts and also due to its ideal barley-growing conditions.

Anthony Wills, founder and managing director of the Kilchoman Distillery Co Ltd, said: “We’re delighted that sales with The Whisky Shop have been so successful.  It is encouraging that our malt, which is still a relative newcomer to the market, is making such an impact and outselling some of the other Islay malts that have been around for much longer.”

Andrew Torrance, Managing Director of The Whisky Shop, said: “Our partnership with Kilchoman has been extremely beneficial to both our businesses.  Sales of this fantastic malt have been strong and we’re confident that they will continue to be so as awareness of this product continues to increase.”

Notes: 

The Whisky Shop: 

The Whisky Shop is the largest specialist whisky retailer in the UK with 21 stores nationwide and an online store at www.whiskyshop.com

The premium London Piccadilly flagship opened in 2012 and recently won the 2013 National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) Design Partnership Award for Retail.

With a nod to Shakespeare and Las Vegas we’re pleased to bring you another curious Outturn.

So dive in – the whisky’s fine!

For full tasting notes visit www.smws.ca

Cask No. 26.88 Midsummer night’s dram
9 years old; 1st fill barrel; 61.8%
The nose combined fruity notes (pears in syrup, lychees, red apple, lemon) with real honeycomb scented candles and fresh linen. The palate was juicy and tasty – a ‘wow factor’ burst of exotic fruit flavours (watermelon, mango) with some hay and a pleasant mouth-coating texture.

Cask No. 36.57 Puff candy and vanilla sponge
23 years old; refill hogshead; 53.4%
A spicy nose of ginger sponge cake with creamy custard and vanilla sponge cake followed by clean cotton sheets on the clothes line. The taste is much sweeter than expected – jelly beans and honeycomb – and it drinks well straight.

Cask No. 35.75 Victorian walled garden in Las Vegas
17 years old; 1st fill designer hogshead; 57.9%
Reminiscent of a sports physiotherapist’s office – muscle spray, shea butter and massage oil next to a disinfected tile floor and a newly opened First Aid kit. To taste, an oriental market and belly dancers in Las Vegas – hot and intense; intriguing depth.

Cask No. 30.73 Plum jam and toffee apples
11 years old; refill port pipe; 58.5%
A very interesting nose with lots going on – plum jam, peach, apricot, rose-hip syrup, cinnamon toast, honey, toffee, almond and fresh oak. The palate started with crisp greengage freshness before turning to pomegranates and red toffee apples, closing with dried figs and dates and mild spice.

Cask No. 53.173 Glowing embers on the tongue
16 years old; refill sherry butt; 59.8%
Typical sooty, briny and oily fish scents with citric, herbal and medicinal background notes, along with light honey on brown toast and tart berries. To taste, it had a very ashy texture – hot ash, ‘like glowing embers’, but the vanilla and honey helped counterbalance the salty and smoky characteristics.

www.smws.ca

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
104-1240 Kensington Road NW, Suite 160
Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 3P7
Email – curious@smws.ca

Welcome (Failte) to the Whisky Society Fellowship.

Connect internationally with fellow whisky enthusiast societies & associations – Join the Whisky Fellowship movement! Together with the Malt Whisky Association of Finland, Angels Whisky Club has formulated a plan through which different whisky enthusiast organizations in various parts of the world can co-operate together in a fun & beneficial way.

We may be far apart, but in today’s world people travel more than ever, and a union of fellow whisky enthusiasts can offer a new angle and depth to the hobby we all love. General points of Global Whisky Society Fellowship between societies, club and associations:

1. Joining the Whisky Society Fellowship costs nothing to a club.

2. Our aim is to organize once a year a get-together tasting between delegations from various societies, hosted by one of the member organizations.

3. International whisky enthusiasts’ welcome dram, and “vow of hospitality” (on best effort basis, of course). Whenever a member of one of the societies travels to the other’s location (looking for whisky), there is some possibility of contacting the other society, and letting them know of this individual coming to their town. There’s no obligation, but maybe some member’s can volunteer to meet with the individual(s), and perhaps also help them find a good whisky bar, or show them around a bit, or just meet for drinks informally. If there are whisky distilleries in the country, we can also put in a good word for the guests, making sure they get top treatment during their visit. (Mika: I can certainly say that if anyone comes to Helsinki, some of our members can show the persons around, and help them find places and drink an informal welcome dram etc.)

4. An invitation to any annual whisky festival / event the society arranges locally. Perhaps we can at least extend an invite to few persons to come over & represent other clubs to see & enjoy the event as guests.(the travellers and their club will need to cover their expenses).

5. Every 5 years, a bigger meeting/get-together between delegations, where members get to know each other, have dinner, taste whiskies etc. Most likely in Scotland.

6. Jointly organized trips, and assistance in organizing trips: If one member society organizes a trip to Japan, Ireland, Scotland, USA or Canada (for example), interested fellowship society members may want join in, and can. Similarly, if one fellowship society is organizing a whisky tour, I am quite certain that we could benefit from each other’s experiences and knowledge in doing so, by sharing tour organizer data, information on locations, routes and places planned to visit. We may also be able to introduce each other to great whisky guides, or guest speakers who we’ve met and found to be excellent in their knowledge, and people we’d highly recommend.

7. Worthy Whisky Bars –listing to share. Many guides and such try to compile database on good whisky pubs & bars from around the world: Problem is, often the lists are outdated, or information is gained from commercially interested parties, i.e. they do not represent the views of enthusiasts. Together we could really make a grand map listing of worthy whisky bars & pubs that can be shared amongst participating societies.

8. New societies joining in: In general, the Fellowship is meant to be an open organization that any whisky / whiskey enthusiast group can join. To avoid any discrepancies and disagreements, any new society joining this plan can and will be discussed openly with the other parties involved (each club, society etc needs to give contact person names whom to keep in touch with). If needed, we can cast a vote aye / nae amongst ourselves for future memberships, and discuss the membership applications prior to approval. The objective here is to respect the view of each member society, not to discriminate against any potential member society.

9. Joint events (like the 5-year meetings) are always discussed together openly.

Final words on the Whisky Society Fellowship: This idea was not planned to create added burden or commercial / financial obligations to anyone. We do what we can, and try to create fun events and happenings that could be shared globally with like-minded organizations, and of course the people who belong to them. There is no obligation as such binding any society to participate to activities, or to organize activities etc. If & when needed. When this movement starts to grow, we can formulate more formal “rules & regulations”. Paul and Mika both have enjoyed enormously meeting numerous fellow whisky enthusiasts, professionals etc over the years, and we have seen already how gross-global co-operation benefits all participating parties. We have a united vision of how this organization could really benefit organizations around the world, whilst also strengthening the whisky culture in various countries. Together we are stronger, and wiser. Let us unite in this positive way and make this movement mutually beneficial and enjoyable!

Sincerely,
Mika R. Jansson. President, Malt Whisky Association of Finland
Paul Mclean. Chairman, Angel’s Whisky Club 

www.angelswhiskyclub.com 

http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/whiskysocietyfellowship.asp

www.ralfy.com gets a bit Speysiderish with Whisky Review 375 – Tamdhu 10yo

As you’ll know, pure water is at the heart of Speyburn. Which is why we’re proud to have joined forces with the Spey Foundation – a charitable organisation providing scientific research and advice for the protection, conservation and enhancement of the River Spey and its tributaries.  This includes the Granty Burn, which is the source of our water.

We’ll be working with the Spey Foundation on a special project to open up Spey Burns for wildlife. This is an exciting project to be part of, and we look forward to telling you more about it in the near future.

www.speyburn.com

THE MACALLAN SELECT RESERVE 1948 FETCHES £4,400 FOR CHARITY AT MASTERPIECE AUCTION

The rare and special bottle of The Macallan Select Reserve, donated by Maxxium UK, sold for £4,400 at the Masterpiece Midsummer Party Auction and will benefit Marie Curie Cancer Care; an organisation that cares for terminally ill patients and their families.

Held in a spectacular purpose-built pavilion on the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea and hosted by Heather Kerzner, guests at the Masterpiece Midsummer Party, enjoyed The Macallan Amber cocktails while participating in an auction of art, antiques and luxury items.

Marketing Director at Maxxium UK, Peter Sandstrom commented: “We have had a fantastic response to this very special whisky and are thrilled with the result of last night’s auction which has raised £4,400 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, a very worthy cause.”

Exhibitor at Masterpiece London 2013, the capital’s leading art, antiques and design fair, The Macallan showcased Masters of Photography Annie Leibovitz prints and a specially commissioned sculpture by John Galvin which used wood from Macallan casks to display the brand’s new 1824 Series.

Throughout the eight days over 3000 consumers sampled The Macallan 1824 Series. Guests also enjoyed Macallan Amber and Sienna cocktails which were available at the restaurants and bars run by Caprice and Birley within the exhibition space.  This year The Macallan’s sampling programme focuses on the contemporary art world, with the luxury malt whisky brand exhibiting at designjunction in September this year.

The Macallan: www.themacallan.com

Please enjoy our brand responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk

The Macallan Select Reserve 1948:

Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd. Label date is 26^th November, in sealed presentation case within original cardboard tube, outer carton and certificate of authenticity. One 700ml bottle and one unbranded 5cl bottle.

 The Macallan Select Reserve 1948 was selected from three Spanish oak sherry casks, laid down to mature in winter 1948, at The Macallan, on the Easter Elchies Estate. Distilled from barley harvested in the late summer of 1947, this very rare single malt whisky bears the hallmarks expected of The Macallan’s mastery of excellence, revealing a resinous, spicy, citrus character, swathed in fruit and the rich phenols associated with the immediate post war years. A rare and special whisky, with only a handful available at auction in the last three years, Jim Murray comments that “The nose is exceptional.”