Teeling Whiskey Appoint Infinium Spirits as Exclusive US Importer 

Teeling Whiskey, the leading independent Irish whiskey company, has appointed Infinium Spirits as their exclusive importer of the Teeling Whiskey portfolio of premium Irish whiskey brands to the US market. 

The US is the largest and fastest growing market for Irish whiskey with sales of 2.2m cases in 2012 and is now a larger category than Scottish single malts. Irish whiskey sales have risen over 400% since 2002 with continued growth in excess of 20% forecasted for 2014 and beyond. 

The Teeling family whiskey heritage dates back to distilling in Dublin in 1782 when Walter Teeling set up a distillery in Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties. Jack and his brother Stephen, Sales & Marketing Director, are the current generation of Teelings involved in the Irish whiskey industry. 

Teeling Whiskey is a small batch bottling from hand selected casks of grain and malt Irish whiskey which are further matured in former rum barrels. Teeling Whiskey is bottled at 46% with no chill filtration which provides an extra sweet and smooth flavor making it truly a unique Irish whiskey. While initially starting out as an independent bottler, the aim of the new generation of Teelings is to bring Teeling Whiskey home by establishing the first new whiskey distillery in Dublin in over 125 years. 

Jack Teeling, founder of the Teeling Whiskey Company, commented, “We are delighted to be able to partner with Infinium Spirits on launching our Teeling Whiskey brand in the US market. Given the importance of the US for any Irish whiskey we took our time selecting our importer and believe we have found a like-minded family-owned partner to take advantage of the opportunity for our unique expressions of Irish whiskey. We look forward to working with the Infinium team and getting our Teeling whiskey on back bars and shelves in the US.” 

Infinium Spirits is a company focused on developing distinctive brands in the premium and ultra-premium segments of the US spirits industry.

www.teelingwhiskey.com   

www.infiniumspirits.com 

www.ralfy.com big-up’s an unusual blended Scotch with Whisky Review 420 – Hankey Bannister Heritage Blend Scotch

The Blue Moon of whisky tastings, sort of. 

A blue moon happens only rarely, right? Well, so it is when the First Friday and Second Saturday of a month wind up on consecutive nights. Such is the case in February and March of 2014. 

February 7^th and March 7^th are the First Fridays of those two months. February 8^th and March 8^th are each month’s Second Saturday. What’s it all mean? 

Well, it’s quite a good thing for whisky drinkers in and around central Wyoming. It means those two months’ single malt Scotch tastings are on consecutive nights at the Miner’s Delight Inn Bed & Breakfast in Atlantic City, Wyoming. 

Thirty miles from gas and groceries, and situated along the southeastern foothills of the Wind River Mountain Range, Atlantic City—at 7,675’ (2,339m)—boasts dirt streets and about 25 year-round residents. In the winter months the fireplace and woodstove roar at the Miner’s Delight Inn, and on the Second Saturday of each month proprietors Barbara and Bob Townsend have been pouring single malt Scotch whiskies going on six years. They started their First Friday tastings in February 2012. 

            Climb the mountain, bring your cross-country skis if you’re so inclined—there’s a Nordic trail system six miles away—and settle in to sample the single malt spirits of Scotland. 

            You’ll find the featured whiskies for each night at the inn’s site:  http://www.minersdelightinn.com/Scotch%20Whisky.htm

Suntory Launches “Suntory Whisky Premium Kakubin

Suntory Liquors Limited will start the nationwide launch of a new product from the Suntory Whisky “Kakubin” lineup, “Premium Kakubin” on May 21st in Japan.

Since its initial release in 1937, Kakubin has been recognizable for a flavor tailored to the delicate Japanese palate and its enduring tortoise-shell bottle. The long-selling brand of whisky is representative of Japan and loved by many. In recent years, the “Kaku highball” has become a popular drink, turning those unfamiliar with whisky into devotees and greatly contributing to the revitalization of the whisky market. Sales of Kakubin from January to March 2013 in Japan have also trended upward 105% over the previous year.

With an eye toward further expanding the number of whisky aficionados, the perennial brand of choice, “Kakubin” is newly releasing “Premium Kakubin,” which was created under the concept of “luxury at your fingertips” to suggest a new way to enjoy whisky. “Premium Kakubin” is the perfect whisky for a little lift in spirits when you want a treat for yourself or to spend time with that special someone.

Characteristics

While maintaining the balanced flavor unique to “Kakubin,” the whisky utilizes carefully selected malt from wine and sherry casks at Yamazaki Distillery and Hakushu Distillery. This “Kakubin” has a rich, layered aroma that unfolds in the palate for a sweet, profound flavor and a luxurious experience.

Packaging

The package presents a quality design with a stylish, slim bottle and a label featuring the traditional Japanese color of dark steel blue, while retaining the iconic “Kakubin” appearance that serves as the brand’sidentity through the tortoise-shell bottle, elliptical label, and signature of the first master blender and founder, Shinjiro Torii.

 

(this press release is published for historical reference – WI)

Islay’s independent farm distillery, Kilchoman, has three outstanding whiskies which make an ideal accompaniment to each stage of a special Burns’ Suppers this month. 

The Kilchoman 2007 Vintage is the oldest single malt Kilchoman has released to date and recently won the Whisky Advocate’s Award for Islay Single Malt of the Year 2013.

Renowned whisky connoisseur, Dave Broom, says of the Kilchoman 2007 Vintage: “Kilchoman has truly arrived.  Buckle up, this is going to be some ride.  Here is a whisky which not only showed the difference between age and maturity, but was the first demonstration of the distillery itself reaching maturity, quicker than anyone might have imagined.  Single malt is all about distillery character and here you can see what Kilchoman’s is. 

Perfect for the  ‘Toast to Robert Burns’, Kilchoman 2007 is priced at £51.60 for 70cl and is available direct from www.kilchomandistillery.com and specialist whisky retailers.

The unique 100% Islay is the only Single Malt in Scotland where every stage of the whisky making process, from the barley grown in the surrounding fields to the malting, distillation, maturation and bottling, takes place at the distillery. 

On the palate, peat smoke explodes in the mouth with sweet soft mixed fruit very evident, making the 100% Islay the ideal accompaniment to Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. 

100% Islay is bottled at 50% ABV and is available from specialist drinks and whisky stores, priced at RRP of £59.95, 70cl. Available from www.kilchomandistillery.com and UK stockists including RoyalMileWhiskies, The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange. Only 10,000 bottles of the limited edition are available worldwide and are selling fast. 

Machir Bay is bottled once a year, and each release contains more mature casks allowing connoisseurs of Kilchoman to follow the development of the unique malt as it matures. 

The nose of Machir Bay is soft, cooked fruits with strong peat aromas and the taste is of mixed fruits and vanilla with an intense sweetness, the perfect measure for the ‘Toast to the Lassies’ towards the end of a Burns’ supper. 

First launched in 2012, Machir Bay has since won several prestigious awards including IWSC 2012 Gold Medal – Best in Class and Whisky of the Year at the International Whisky Competition. 

The Machir Bay is priced at RRP of £39.99 and is available from www.kilchomandistillery.com, and UK specialist drinks and whisky shops.  Machir Bay 2013 is bottled at 46% ABV.  

www.kilchomandistillery.com

facebook.com/pages/Kilchoman-Distillery

twitter.com/Kilchoman05

Notes:  

Tasting Notes:  Kilchoman 2007 Single Islay Malt

Colour: light beech darkening with age
Nose: smoky vanilla and caramel notes with cooked fruits, lemon and citrus
Palate: butterscotch and soft citrus fruit with a lasting sweetness
Finish: peaty and fruity with a long lingering sweetness

Dave Broom:  “In this expression you get full integration between oak and distillery, a sparkling mix of seashell, the freshness of seaweed, mixed with churned butter, driftwood, and fresh-kilned peat. On the tongue, there’s samphire, peat, sweet barley, and an herbal kick.” 

Tasting Notes: Kilchoman 100% Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky, 3^rd Edition

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 

Tasting Notes: Machir Bay

Colour:  light beech.

Nose:  Soft cooked fruits with strong peaty aromas.

Palate: Mixed fruits and vanilla with an intense sweetness.

Finish:  A long lingering finish.  A classic Islay malt now showing the benefit of additional ageing.   

About Kilchoman

• Since the first bottling in 2009, Kilchoman has quickly established itself as a high quality Islay Single Malt within the whisky industry. Awards include two prestigious IWSC Gold and a Silver medal in 2012, Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky of the Year 2011 and GQ’s 100 best things in 2012. 
• Kilchoman’s exceptional quality was recognised at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC), which named Machir Bay as its Whisky of the Year and Anthony Wills as Master Distiller of the Year 2013.
• At the IWSC 2013 Awards, Loch Gorm was awarded Gold, Machir Bay received Silver and 100% Islay 2nd Ed was given bronze.
• Kilchoman 2007 Vintage received Whisky Advocate’s Award for Islay Single Malt of the Year 2013.
• Founded in 2005, Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and the first distillery to be built on Islay for 125 years. A working farm distillery, it is one of only a handful of distilleries still practising floor malting. Kilchoman also grows its own barley, and completes all parts of the production process, from barley to bottling, on the island.

Top Picks

• Bowmore Dorus Mor Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)

• Caol Ila “Stitchel Reserve” Unpeated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)

 New Arrivals

Japan – Single Malt Scotch

• Suntory Yamazaki 18 year old Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (one bottle limit) 750ml ($154.99)
  93 points Whisky Advocate: “Deep, mature in nature, and very complex. Notes of polished leather, maple syrup, and dark pit fruit, with suggestions of tobacco smoke, wood shavings, and unsweetened chocolate. References to fine old bourbon and ultra-matured pot-still rum provide intrigue. Proof that Japan produces some outstanding, distinctive whiskies. Nicely done! ” 91 points Wine Enthusiast: “Apple and pear aromas, and delicate floral and fruity flavors. This Japanese whisky finishes smoky, elegant and restrained.” (03/2011) K&L Notes: The Suntory whiskies are handcrafted at Japan’s oldest distillery, built by the founder of Suntory–Shinjiro Torii–in 1923. This was named “Best in Class” at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2006 and awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 2005 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This will wow any fan of single malt whisky with its spicy cherry, date, toffee and orange notes and its long, dry finish.

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Tuthilltown Hudson Baby Bourbon (375ml) – 12 available ($42.99)
  Tuthilltown Spirits is located along New York Hudson’s River and has the distinction of being the first New York distillery to (legally) make bourbon since Prohibition. The Hudson Baby Bourbon is a single-grain bourbon made entirely from New York corn, and it is aged in small American oak barrels that impart vanilla caramel notes and soften the spirit’s edges. Mild, this is a great introduction to bourbon, but enjoyable for even the most discerning connoisseur.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com/
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #75

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries the PC5. Port Charlotte is not a distillery – at least not anymore and not yet (got it ?) – but the popular whisky is produced at the Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay. The PC5 was in fact their first Port Charlotte release, an aptly named 5 Year Old heavily peated malt. A gentle giant from Islay. 

http://youtu.be/AzOyeLdesjw

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends, including The Antiquary and “Big T”. Once the largest distillery in Scotland it still boasts 12 stills and manufactures over 2,000,000 litres of whisky each year.

Tomatin uses circa 28,000 tonnes of steam per year as part of its production process and as it is located off the natural gas network, the company’s main fuel source was Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), powering a 10MW oil boiler. With HFO prices having increased significantly over the past ten years and because it is committed to the Scotch Whisky industry’s environmental goals of 20% replacement of fossil fuels by 2020 and 80% by 2050, Tomatin wanted to use renewable energy for the provision of steam required in its production process.

The Tomatin Project
In mid-2012, Tomatin and Balcas signed a long term agreement for the supply of heat energy in the form of steam at the Distillery. Balcas designed and built a 4MW wood pellet fuelled steam plant that could supply the steam requirements for the distillation of spirit at Tomatin. The Balcas boiler delivers over 80% of the distillery’s requirements, with occasional peaks in demand being met with the backup oil boiler. The displacement of HFO onsite with brites wood pellets manufactured using renewable heat and electricity, reduces the distillery’s CO2 emissions by an estimated 90,000 tonnes over the twenty year life of the agreement. Therefore as well as significant net financial savings, the distillery has also met its 2050 environmental targets as set by the Scotch Whisky Association, making it one of the greenest distilleries in Scotland.

The Balcas team worked closely with the distillery project team to raise steam only 8 months from the initial handshake with Tomatin. Balcas also installed the energy meters and managed the application and administration involved in obtaining the Renewable Heat Incentive. Finance for the project was provided by a joint venture between Balcas and Equitix, who themselves were backed by the Government’s Green Investment Bank, its first investment in Scotland.

Balcas now remotely monitors the entire installation planning fuel deliveries and scheduling regular maintenance visits. The wood used to make brites is virgin and locally sourced in Scotland.

The Balcas Proposition

Balcas is the largest manufacturer of wood pellets in the UK with our Invergordon facility in Scotland being the largest pellet plant in the UK. With our 50 years’ experience in the timber industry and almost a decade supplying high quality wood pellets under the brites brand in the UK and Ireland, we have developed a heat energy solution tailor made for large scale industrial and commercial customers requiring saturated steam within their production process.

At the heart of the solution lies the longstanding relationship with our chosen boiler manufacturer, Vyncke. Having specialised in biomass boilers for 100 years, they have worked with Balcas to perfect a range of steam boilers made to deliver in an industrial environment where steam is often required 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Delivering the technical solution, security of long term fuel supply, on-going maintenance and the finance for the installation under one energy contract, Balcas has endeavoured to answer the questions many industrial customers have asked of the renewable energy sector.

Benefits

*Instant and significant carbon savings
*Up to 90,000 tonnes of CO2 saved over the course of the contract
*Achieved Scotch Whisky Association carbon reduction target of 80% by 2050,
*37 years ahead of schedule
*Security of fuel supply from brites wood pellets
*Long term isolation from the price fluctuations in fossil fuel market
*Significant financial savings from early in the project
*Ability to benefit from the RHI for next 20 years
*Installation of 4MW biomass steam boiler completed within 8 months including planning permission
*Over achievement of original performance targets

“As members of the Scotch Whisky Association we are fully committed, along with the other members, to reducing our carbon output by 80% by 2050. The shift to brites fuel means we have now achieved this target; 37 years ahead of the target. As well as the carbon reduction, there was also a clear financial saving offered by Balcas, with the Renewable Heat Incentive providing additional funding for the next twenty years. In addition to these savings, the solution proposed by Balcas was also much more compact that others we had reviewed and the use of pellets meant we had a local and reliable source of fuel. We are delighted to now be one of the greenest distilleries in Scotland, and to have been the first to have completed the installation.”

Graham Eunson
Distillery Manager, Tomatin

Make the once in a lifetime trip and sail with tall ship Thalassa! Sail along with us to the best single malt distilleries and visit the famous Islay Whisky Festival. Discover Scotland’s coastal distilleries, enjoy the company of whisky lovers and learn from whisky professionals! see Scotland and its isles from a different angle and discover its beauty. Read more…

Many guests have been welcomed on board before you: earlier an article about our whisky sailing journey was published in Whisky Magazine 2013. Read more about the experiences  of journalist Martin Mitchell (Read the article here… )

Our whisky sailing trips in 2014 

Whisky trip 1: May, 17th – May 24th 2014

Price: EUR 895,- per person **JUST A FEW PLACES LEFT** 

Whisky trip 2: May 24th – May 31st 2014 (ISLAY WHISKY FESTIVAL)

Price: EUR 995,- per person ** FULLY BOOKED** 

Read more… 

Program whisky sailing trip 1

Important notice: during this journey we chose to sail another route compared to the previous journeys! Were you our guest during one of these trips before it might be worthwhile to consider shipping  in on board of Thalassa once more and discover a new part of Scotland!

The sailing trip starts in Oban, Scotland and ends in Troon, Scotland.

Day 1: Embarkation in Oban

Day 2: Departure to Tobermory, visit distillery Tobermory, bustour Mull

Day 3: Departure for Bunnahabhain, overnight stay in its bay OR via Corryvreckan to Jura, overnight stay in its bay

Day 4: Visit distillery Bunnahabhain or Jura, departure to Port Ellen

Day 5: Possible visit distilleries Islay, overnight stay in Port Ellen

Day 6: Departure direction Campbelltown, visit Springbank distillery

Day 7: Tour Glenscotia, departure for Arran, visit distillery, departure for Troon

Day 8: Disembark at Troon 

The definite sailing route depend on wind and weather conditions. The captain of the vessel is authorized to modify the schedule, if necessary due to circumstances as described above. In such case the captain and his crew will make suggestions for a fair alternative route. 

More information about the trips can be found here. For online booking click here. For further questions please contact us by email or phone: +31-10-4156600. 

Welcome on board!

HOLLANDS GLORIE

Liesbeth Wammes – de Graaf

Brigitte Beckers