www.ralfy.com explores the quiet malt with a big conversation with Whisky Review 445 – Hazelburn 10yo Rundlets & Kilderkins @ 50.1%

Find out what wine and whisky can do for each other

April 14, 2014, Sidney Pier Hotel, 7:00 PM

“Wind Down With Wine-finished Whiskies”
A little bord-eaux-d with your whiskies? Why not explore a new terroir? Whisky distilleries are starting to stretch their legs and experimenting with what our favorite grape-blessed barrels can do. The whiskies are definitely rising to the occasion! Join us to nose and taste the results of this exciting blend of industries. This event will be led by an aficionado of fine wines and whiskies.

3 course dinner, 4 whiskies

Members $60 – Guests $70 – Designated Drivers (Dinner only) $50

Please RSVP by email
Payment prior to the event can be made by mailing a cheque payable to:

Sidney Peninsula Companions of the Quaich
502-5350 Sayward Hill Crescent, Victoria, B.C. V8Y 3H9

We are delighted to announce the arrival of the first three expressions in our Limited Edition anCnoc Peaty Collection.

Aiming to unravel the mysteries of peated whisky for modern drinkers, this new collection from our Knockdhu Distillery features anCnoc’s classic light, easy-drinking style but with a dark, distinctive and smoky twist.  Click here to shine a light on your dark side and discover the anCnoc Peaty Collection.

To celebrate the launch of the new collection we are giving you and a friend the opportunity to win a trip to Scotland to visit Knockdhu Distillery and enjoy a whisky masterclass with our Distillery Manager.  Visit our website to enter before the 30th April for your chance to win.

Regards,
Knockdhu Distillery

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES ELMER T. LEE COMMEMORATIVE EDITION BOURBON 

Profits from Limited Edition Bourbon going to local VFW  

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (April. 3, 2014) – In 1949, a slight young man fresh out of college with an engineering degree came to work at Buffalo Trace Distillery (then known as the George T. Stagg Distillery). That man was Elmer T. Lee, and little did anyone know, he would become a legend in the bourbon industry – a Master Distiller, creating the world’s first single barrel bourbon in 1984 and revitalizing the bourbon industry.

After 36 years of service to Buffalo Trace Distillery, Elmer retired in 1985, but continued to travel the world as a bourbon ambassador for Buffalo Trace. He regaled bourbon fans with stories from his past, while educating them about the history and heritage of America’s native spirit. Shortly after his retirement Elmer was honored with his own namesake single barrel bourbon. Every week Elmer visited the Distillery in which he had spent so much of his life, went to the laboratory, and personally selected the barrels for his namesake brand.

Sadly, in 2013 Elmer died just a few weeks shy of what would have been his 94^th birthday. Now, Buffalo Trace honors Elmer again with the release of a commemorative edition Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon at 93 proof, his age when he passed.

Selected from the same warehouse floors which Elmer liked to find his “honey” barrels for his namesake bourbon, the commemorative edition is packaged in the same square bottle as the standard Elmer T. Lee, but with an upscale black label with gold embossed lettering bearing Elmer’s signature. His distinctive profile adorns the front of the label while the back label details of Elmer’s life and his legacy.

“We’re remarkably fortunate to have known Elmer. His contributions to the bourbon industry, Buffalo Trace Distillery and all our lives are countless. We want to honor our friend and give back to his family and his favorite cause, the Veterans of Foreign Wars,” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director. “Profits from the sale of this commemorative edition Elmer T. Lee Bourbon will go to local VFW Post 4075, in which Elmer was active until the end.” Elmer served as a radar bombardier in the United States Army Air Corps (now known as the United States Air Force) in World War II.   

“The barrels selected for this bourbon taste much the same as the standard Elmer T. Lee bourbon in which he was so proud. Barrels were tasted and carefully evaluated by the team at Buffalo Trace to ensure each had the smooth and balanced sweetness that Elmer T. Lee Bourbon fans have come to love,” continued Comstock.

The commemorative bottling of Elmer T. Lee Bourbon will start arriving in stores this April.  Quantities of this one-time offering are very limited. Suggested retail pricing is $34.99. Production of the standard Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon will continue as barrels come of age and are deemed worthy of Elmer and his legacy. 

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American 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 http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/. 

Wolfburn Distillery Thurso,Caithness, April 2014

Wolfburn Distillery Fills Its 1,000th Cask

Wolfburn Distillery today achieved the production milestone of filling its one thousandth cask. A total of 811 casks were filled in 2013; this week the 189th cask of 2014 was filled, making a grand total of 1,000.

“It’s a huge achievement,” comments Shane Fraser, production manager. “We reached the magic 1,000 number quicker than expected – and even better, we have done it without compromising on quality.”

The spirit laid down in 2014 will only be bottled as whisky in 2017 – and even then the vast majority of casks will be held back for longer maturation. “This year we have laid down more spirit in large ex-sherry casks,” explains Shane. “They will produce really lovely whisky but it will benefit from longer aging, so we’ll keep most of it to mature for many more years.”

Wolfburn’s inaugural whisky is expected in the first quarter of 2016. It will be made from spirit laid down during the early part of 2013. “There’s still a long way to go until we start bottling,” says Shane, “but we’re ahead of projections in almost every aspect of the business and very much looking forward to being able to share our whisky with the world.”

Photograph: Production manager Shane Fraser fills Wolfburn’s 1,000th cask (No.189 of 2014) – an ex-bourbon quarter cask, which holds approximately 130 litres of spirit.

ABOUT WOLFURN:

The original Wolfburn Distillery was founded just to the west of Thurso by William Smith in 1821. In its day it was one of the largest distilleries in Scotland, producing, according to HMRC records, 28,056 “gallons of proof spirit” in a single year. Taking its name from the stream that provided the water – the Wolf Burn – the distillery operated until the 1860s. The reasons for its closure are lost in time, but by the 1870s the newly produced Ordnance Survey maps showed it being in ruins.

In 2011, plans were laid to resurrect the old distillery. Construction began in mid-2012 and in January 2013 the new Wolfburn Distillery commenced production, thereby becoming the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland. Situated 350m from the site of the original distillery, the new Wolfburn operates in much the same way as the old: craftsmen use traditional methods to produce fine spirit, which is laid down in best quality oak casks to await the day when it is bottled as whisky.

Wolfburn Distillery, Henderson Park, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7XW

www.wolfburn.com

THE JURA WHISKY FESTIVAL IS ON THE HORIZON

The experiences that await you in our intersection of whisky, art and breathtaking scenery will create a multi-sensory escapade worth travelling for. Held on the Isle of Jura on the 28-29th May, the #JuraTastival is a celebration of our world-class whiskies. Will you be joining us for the tantalising ride?

We want our flavours to get under your skin, so you can let your taste-buds do the talking. It’s a taste revolution where you tell us exactly what you taste as you follow your nose and your palate on this unique exploratory adventure.

Join Master Distiller Richard Paterson for Dramming in the Dark – a surreal tasting of the Jura Festival Whisky held in pitch black. Or why not meet up with our Jura Ambassador’s Graham and Anthony as they guide you through a multi-dimensional sensory experience featuring our most popular whiskies. Let them tickle your taste buds and reveal to you the riot of sounds and colours in our whiskies. In short, you will experience whisky like never before.

If you’re a fan of explosive flavours , then book your space now!

We’ll also be offering free tours of our distillery throughout the two days and our Dramming Bar will be open throughout the festival.

And just because we know how ungetatable the island is, Garelochhead Coaches are offering free transport on the island from the port to the distillery.

Be part of this unique toast to the Jura way of life and put the dates in your diary.

You can purchase tickets here: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-jura-tastival-2014-tickets-9653996363

We’ll see you on the island!

Willie Cochrane and everybody at the Jura Distillery.

Become a Glen Garioch Drambassador!

Calling all whisky bloggers!

We are looking for 20 Glen Garioch Drambassadors who would like the opportunity to receive and review an exclusive new mystery dram, ahead of release! 

All you have to do to enter is click on the link below, and enter your details. Easy!

ENTER TODAY!

This week Joe Ellis reviews the very popular Travel Retail exclusive Talisker Dark Storm! 

http://youtu.be/LOK8JwZ_Llo 

http://Facebook.com/whiskytube 

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

Diageo launches Haig Club – a new Scotch Whisky – in partnership with David Beckham and Simon Fuller 

LONDON, April 8, 2014.  Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks company, announces today the global launch of Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky, in partnership with global sporting icon David Beckham and British entrepreneur Simon Fuller. Working alongside Diageo, Beckham and Fuller will play a fundamental role in developing the brand, its strategy and positioning. David Beckham will also lead the promotion of a responsible drinking programme for Haig Club, which is at the heart of the brand. 

Haig Club is a new innovation from the House of Haig, Scotland’s oldest grain whisky dynasty and makers of Haig Blended Scotch Whisky and Dimple Scotch Whisky. Built on 400 years of distilling history, the House of Haig can trace its whisky producing roots back to the seventeenth century. In 1824 John Haig established the Cameronbridge Distillery and it was there that he pioneered the art of producing grain whisky in continuous Coffey and Stein stills – an invention which laid the foundations for the growth and success of the modern Scotch Whisky industry. Haig Club is born of that Haig family legacy of innovation and excellence in whisky creation.  

David Gates, Diageo’s Global Head of Premium Core Spirits, commented: “Whisky is experiencing a continued global renaissance and like many of the world’s most respected whisky experts, we believe this will be the year that grain whisky breaks into the mainstream and gains the recognition it deserves. Diageo has a proven track record in Scotch Whisky innovation and we have applied this expertise through the House of Haig in liquid development and craftsmanship, creating a sophisticated new whisky in Haig Club.  

“David Beckham and Simon Fuller are renowned for breaking boundaries and shaking up markets in every sector in which they work. We are immensely proud to partner with them on our first large scale grain whisky innovation.”  

Beckham commented: “The House of Haig has a rich history and I’m proud to be working at the heart of a home-grown brand which has built an incredible heritage over 400 years. Working closely with Diageo, we look forward to collaborating on Haig Club, valuing and treasuring the Haig traditions while reinventing this whisky for years to come.” 

Simon Fuller said: “This is a long term commitment. It is important to us that we create something unique and of great quality.  With Haig Club we have an opportunity to push boundaries and help shape how Scotch will be perceived in the future, it’s an exciting proposition.  We could not wish for a better partner than Diageo.” 

Haig Club has been crafted using a unique process that combines grain whisky from three cask types.  This creates a fresh, clean style that showcases butterscotch and toffee for an ultra-smooth taste that the company believes will be enjoyed not only by current whisky drinkers, but also by those who have always wanted to try whisky.   

Respected whisky authority Dave Broom is one of the few drinks experts to have tasted Haig Club. He described it as “a hugely versatile spirit, and I expect bartenders will love what they can do with it. Forget everything you thought you knew about Scotch…”   

Syl Saller, Diageo’s Chief Marketing Officer said: “We see this launch as a terrific accelerator for the whole sector, and one that really strengthens whisky’s position as the most vibrant spirits category. 

“Consumers are constantly searching for new and different tastes and experiences and they are especially excited by those that come from authentic, heritage brands. And Haig Club certainly ticks those boxes. Throughout his career, David Beckham has been at the forefront of emerging trends and rewritten the rules of what it means to be a modern sportsman and businessman, and we are pleased he has decided to turn his hand to Scotch.”  

Haig Club will be launched later in the year.  Details around pricing and availability will be announced nearer launch.   

NOTES 

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 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. 

About David Beckham

David Beckham is one of the world’s most iconic sportsmen. With a professional football career spanning over twenty years, he captained his country for six years, won the British Premier League six times, the UEFA Champions League (with Manchester United) in 1999, and was runner up in the FIFA ‘World Player of the Year’ Awards in 1999 and 2001. 

Having left Manchester United in 2003 for four successful seasons with Real Madrid, Beckham moved to LA Galaxy in 2007, taking the team to two MLS Cup Championships (2011, 2012) while participating in a unique time-share agreement with AC Milan, first in January 2009 and then again in January 2010. 

Now retired, Beckham has been appointed global ambassador for the Chinese Football Association and has announced that he will co-own a Major League Soccer expansion team in Miami. 

Married to Victoria and father to four children, Beckham’s fame extends far beyond the pitch. Noted as a keen advocate of charitable work, he has supported UNICEF since his days at Manchester United, becoming a Goodwill Ambassador in 2005 with a special focus on UNICEF’s Sports for Development program. David is also on the Leadership Council for charity Malaria No More. 

An astute businessman, David Beckham will play an integral role in developing the Haig Club brand, its strategy and positioning. In addition, he will lead the promotion of the responsible drinking programme for Haig Club, which is at the heart of the brand. 

About Simon Fuller

Simon Fuller is the founder of XIX Entertainment and the creator of the most popular entertainment show in America of the last ten years (American Idol: source AC Neilsen), Simon Fuller is known for his work in discovering and guiding an impressive list of music artists that include Annie Lennox, Kelly Clarkson, The Spice Girls, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Will Young, Lisa Marie Presley, Cathy Denis and others. 

In 2011 iTunes named Simon Fuller ‘the most successful manager of the digital era’ and a year later he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the global entertainment industries.  

In addition to his TV and music work, Simon Fuller’s business oversees the careers of David Beckham, Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, Tour De France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins and Grand Slam winning tennis champion Andy Murray, as well as being the joint owner of two highly respected fashion businesses with the designers Roland Mouret and Victoria Beckham. 

Simon Fuller has long standing associations with several charitable initiatives, including Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Save The Children, The Prince’s Trust, Malaria No More, The United Nations Foundation and Comic Relief.

DOUBLE AWARD SUCCESS FOR BLACK BOTTLE

International recognition for Burn Stewart’s premium blended Scotch whisky

The distinctive new look of Black Bottle, Burn Stewart Distillers’ premium blended Scotch whisky, has won the ‘World’s Best Relaunch’ category at the World Whisky Design Awards. The award was announced at a ceremony in London on 20^th March – just a few days later, Black Bottle gained further recognition for its recently relaunched whisky with a Bronze Medal win at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

Recognising excellence in bottle, label and pack design, the World Whisky Design Awards are judged by an international panel of design experts who also consider factors such as breakthrough in category, inspiration, confidence, craft skills and insight. The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is considered the most respected spirits competition in the world, with over 1,400 spirits blind-tasted by a selection of the industry’s leading spirits experts. 

Commenting on Black Bottle’s distinctive black glass bottle, which replaced the previous standard green bottle, the World Whisky Design Awards judges described it as: “A beautiful, superbly crafted bottle, that is a real move on from the existing design and which picks up on the brand’s heritage to present a compelling and authentic looking product.” 

Black Bottle, a premium blended Scotch Whisky acquired by Burn Stewart in 2003, was re-launched in October 2013 with a new look and new liquid, both of which were inspired by the original vision of Gordon Graham dating back to 1879 when he used his tea blending skills to create his first whisky, initially only for close friends and family. This new look is a modern interpretation of the iconic black glass bottle, which gave rise to the Black Bottle name over a century ago and of which only a few intact examples still exist today.   

The new liquid that earned Bronze at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition was created by Burn Stewart Master Distiller, Ian MacMillan, who took inspiration from the original recipe of Black Bottle and re-introduced a richness to balance the smokiness of the blend. The result is a curiously rich and slightly smoky whisky that maintains the distinctiveness of Black Bottle but adds another layer of depth to the liquid. 

Marco Di Ciacca, Global Marketing Manager for Black Bottle, said: “We are thrilled to win these awards for Black Bottle and are particularly proud of the new design as it has real stand-out when compared to other brands in what is a fairly traditional category. It is also a significant departure from the previous design and we believe this award is further evidence that we have taken the brand in the right direction.”   

Black Bottle

Black Bottle has an ABV of 40% and is available to buy in the UK in selected on and off trade outlets with an RRP from £18

Tasting Notes

–        Nose: Fresh and floral with freshly sawn oak aromas. Spicy with hints of smoke

–        Palate: Silky, mellow and fruity with balanced smoky / peaty flavours then sweet oak and heather honey

–        Finish: Soft, elegantly spicy, nutmeg, pepper and a gentle lingering smokiness

Notes

• Launched in 1879, Black Bottle is a premium blended Scotch whisky which was acquired by Burn Stewart in 2003, and is currently exported to over 30 countries. 
• Burn Stewart Distillers Limited is a Scotch whisky producer and brand owner with three single malt whisky distilleries and a portfolio of Scotch whisky brands 
• Burn Stewart’s head office and bottling hall is based in East Kilbride near Glasgow, and it has three distilleries; Deanston in Doune, Perthshire; Bunnahabhain on the Isle of Islay; and Tobermory based on the Isle of Mull.
• For more information about Black Bottle or Burn Stewart, visit www.blackbottle.com and www.burnstewartdistillers.com