New Arrivals: Port Ellen & Friends

Spring is upon us and Soho is coming out of hibernation. People are starting to mass outside the cafés and bars, the red lights are shining brighter, and, as I write this, the Square bustles with people escaping the office for lunch. If you need a reason to venture into the West End before sundown we have a host of exciting new releases all for your delectation!

Port Ellen 1982 – Mackillop’s Choice – £650
56.2%abv – Single Cask Yield of 306 Bottles

Closed in 1983, the Port Ellen distillery continues to hold its fans in rapture. As we inevitably inch closer to the bottling of the final cask, we have got our grubby mitts on this delicious little number. Bottled from Cask 1511 after 31 years and 10 months of cask ageing, this is classic Port Ellen. Plenty of lemon zest and chamois leather on the nose with additional driftwood and charcoal. A sweet syrupy mouth feel and a long briny finish. Simply superb.

The first person to buy one of these online will win a free sample of the whisky, because we’re good like that!

Springbank 21 Year Old – £195.95
46%abv – Strictly limited to 1 bottle per customer

This is the third release of the 21 Year Old that we’ve received in as many years. A fruit forward whisky with less of the oiliness of the noble 18 Year Old. Masses of nectarine and peach flavours with a stupendously long finish. This may be a whisky that will nestle comfortably into any collection but makes for an excellent drinking whisky if you’re looking for something that offers age and quality in tandem.

Arran 17 Year Old – £69.95
46%abv – Limited Release of 9000 bottles

Port Ellen may be the Knightsbridge of the whisky world: expensive and desirable in Louboutin heels, but the Isle of Arran distillery is the up-and-coming borough where people roll their trousers up and don’t wear socks. Established in 1995, Arran has gone on to produce a top quality single malt, and this year they have released their first 17 Year Old. This whisky is all about the orchard fruits: cox apple, conference pear followed by crème fraiche and a hint of parma violet. With a delicate mouth feel and a relaxed finish.

Here are the details for the event:

Date: Friday May 2^nd, 2014

Time: 6:30pm to 8:00pm

Please note we will start promptly right at 6:30; doors open 6:15pm

Location:   The Strath Ale Wine & Spirit Merchants, 919 Douglas Street, Victoria

The Maple Room, above the Sticky Wicket Pub, entrance on Courtenay Street

Price: $35 each for Members & Partners, $45 for Non-Members/Guests   

(Not a member? Here’s your chance! Click HERE)

REGISTRATION:   

Space is strictly limited, so you must register in advance.  Guests are welcome, but we now have to restrict it to one guest per member. Members will always have priority. To secure your place you need to pre-pay.

IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY BOOKED, CONTACT US VERY SOON, as the event always sells out. 

The whiskies have already arrived in the store and they are another unique selection of cask strength drams. 

Please email, drop into the store or phone with credit card details (we do not keep card details on file) Email: whisky@strathconahotel.com  Phone: 250-370-9463 . Once your seat(s) are paid for by phone you will receive an email confirmation from me and this is your virtual Ticket.  If you pay in person in the store you will receive a receipt. We are also accepting bookings already for June, when First Friday falls on June 6^th.  As a heads –up, the August First Friday will NOT be on Friday August 1^st as we are busy with monthly inventory.  An alternate date will be announced soon. 

IMPORTANT: 

Please remember these are cask strength whiskies, so you should not be driving home after the tasting. 

Sláinte!

Colin Southcombe
General Manager
The Strath Ale Wine & Spirit Merchants
919 Douglas Street, Victoria BC, V8W 2C2
Tel: 250-370-9463
Email: whisky@strathconahotel.com

Bowmore partners with renowned chef Mark Sargeant to launch Small Batch

-Michelin star sea food expert brings ‘Taste of Islay’ to life-

Bowmore, Islay’s first Single Malt Whisky, is partnering with Michelin starred chef Mark Sargeant to help promote the distiller’s latest expression, Small Batch , bringing the ‘Taste of Islay’ to life for whisky lovers across the country.

Bowmore will be working with Sargeant – previously Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s – to create a range of recipes that reflect the unmistakeable Bowmore flavour profiles of citrus, vanilla, smoke and salt, with Mark adding his own unique seafood skills to the mix.

Graeme Dunnet, Bowmore Ambassador said:

“We jumped at the chance to work with Mark Sargeant, he has the experience with flavours and expertise in seafood that means working with Bowmore Small Batch will come naturally to him. Mark’s recipes will help us demonstrate how you can bring the key flavours, which encapsulate the taste of Islay, to life in food.”

Mark Sargeant said:

“I particularly love Islay whiskies, as a liquid they are steeped in interesting flavour characteristics which have been exciting to bring to life in the recipes I have designed to be used with Bowmore Small Batch. I have loved having the challenge and opportunity to introduce people to this taste, the taste of Islay in the dishes.”

Exclusively matured in first and second fill bourbon barrels before being married together, Bowmore Small Batch offers subtle salt, spices and bourbon oak smoke combined with a trademark honey and creamy malt character. This is all framed against the gentle peaty smokiness Bowmore is famed for.

NOTES:

Bowmore

The best-balanced Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the perfect reward after your outdoor experience. Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles, which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky. The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception; we carefully smoke our malt and use skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

Bowmore’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of our Single Malts. We’re one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery. For our whiskies we draw water from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, and it’s the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of our spirit. The legendary Bowmore No. 1 Vaults is where most of our whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the Vault’s sea-facing wall.

They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours.

It’s this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The Bowmore domestic product range:

• Bowmore Small Batch

• Bowmore 12 Years Old

• Bowmore 15 Years Old ‘Darkest’

• Bowmore 18 Years Old

• Bowmore 25 Years Old

Islay

Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, and is also known as “The Queen of the Hebrides.” Its mild climate and rich peaty soil make it ideal for creating whisky, and despite having a population of not much more than 3,000, it is home to no fewer than eight working distilleries.

Mark Sargeant

Mark Sargeant is the owner of Rocksalt and The Smokehouse, two critically acclaimed seafood restaurants in Kent. Mark earned his stripes during a fourteen year tenure with Gordon Ramsay, opening Restaurant Gordon Ramsay as Sous Chef and winning three Michelin Stars before moving onto the Head Chef position at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s, where he won a further Michelin Star and was awarded Chef of the Year.

A QUINTET of victories for Ian Macleod Distillers at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the most prestigious and highly regarded spirits competition in the USA, has announced a quintet of medals for Ian Macleod Distillers brands’ Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Glengoyne scooped the DOUBLE GOLD Medal for its 18 and 21YO malts, the GOLD medal for its 12YO malt and SILVER medal for its 15YO malt whilst Tamdhu lifted the DOUBLE GOLD Medal in the Single Malt Scotch category and DOUBLE GOLD Medal for Packaging.

Held at the distinguished Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition was the largest in its 14-year history with Glengoyne and Tamdhu fighting off stiff competition from 1,474 entries. Spirit entries were evaluated by 39 of the finest palates from the industry including spirits experts from noted restaurants and hotels, well-known spirits journalists from major national media, spirits buyers for large purveyors, and spirits consultants.

Commenting on the awards, Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “We are delighted with the success of both Glengoyne and Tamdhu at this year’s San Francisco Spirits World Competition. It is extremely gratifying to receive independent recognition for something that we already knew – that Tamdhu and Glengoyne are both excellent whiskies.” 

Ian Macleod Distillers is one of Scotland’s leading, independent family owned distillers. The company acquired the Glengoyne brand in 2003 and Tamdhu in 2011. 

For more information, please visit www.ianmacleod.com, www.glengoyne.com or www.tamdhu.com. 

www.drinkaware.co.uk www.scotch-whisky.org.uk 

·      Ian Macleod & Company Ltd was established on 26 October 1933.

·      Ian Macleod Distillers currently produced and sell over 15 million bottles of spirit per year.

·      Ian Macleod Distillers is also a major supplier to the Buyer’s Own Brand market. They have supplied own-label spirits to some of Europe’s largest supermarket groups for over 40 years.

The Whisky Shop’s Finest Five Father’s Day Whiskies  

Looking for the perfect way to say ‘I Love You Dad’ this Father’s Day?  

A thoughtfully selected dram can be the ideal present to share with your dad on Sunday 15^th June and luxury drinks retailer The Whisky Shop presents the Finest Five whiskies for Father’s Day. 

The Glenlivet Gallow Hill Single Cask – £235.00, The Whisky Shop 

An enchanting Speysider, The Glenlivet Gallow Hill is a Single Cask malt whisky, bottled at natural strength.  The exclusive bottling is a new release and will make a lasting impression this Father’s Day.  

Tasting Note: Concentrated fruit – clementine, pear, a note of pineapple – with toasted almonds and moist gingerbread behind.  Mouth-coating and sweet overall – milk chocolate, treacle toffee – enlivened by sweet orange.  A long refreshing finish. 

Aberfeldy 16 Years Old – Single Cask – £150.00, The Whisky Shop    

From the Highland distillery, Aberfeldy 16 Years Old Single Cask is a new release exclusive to The Whisky Shop and is a delectable dram for any whisky aficionado this Father’s Day.

Selected by Dewar’s Master Blender Stephanie Macleod, the single cask chosen for individual bottling was a refill American oak ex-sherry hogshead.  The cask was chosen as it reflects the key characteristics of Aberfeldy with its heather honey taste, but also contains unique and interesting flavours. 

Tasting Note: Dull gold.  Light nose-prickle.  A mellow nose with  integrated aromas, at natural strength, opening up with water to reveal a dry, dusty, herbal note and a trace of orange peel.  A smooth texture and a sweet taste, with light acidity and beeswax, and a long warming finish. 

Woodford Reserve Classic Malt – £120.00 – The Whisky Shop 

From the smallest distillery in Kentucky, this American Malt Whiskey is a champion choice for Father’s Day.

The Woodford Reserve Classic Malt joins the range of limited releases.  As the name implies, Classic Malt is distilled wholly from malted barley and so it is not a Bourbon.  

Tasting Note: 9CT gold in colour.  The first aroma is of green malt, hay and bread dough, soon becoming Thai prawn crackers, then sweetening to vanilla infused cake mix.  The taste is fresh and sweet, with fresh cereal notes – ears of barley, oats – but with a pleasantly spicy kick in the medium length finish. 

Glenturret Triple Wood – £46.00 – The Whisky Shop    

A Highland whisky from the Glenturret Distillery which is well-known for its status as a visitor destination.  Glenturret Triple Wood is a new release single malt exclusive to The Whisky Shop.  Combining a mix of woods, the influence of Spanish oak is particularly apparent in the colour and aroma. 

Tasting Note: Deep gold, with amber lights.  The first impression is of rice pudding; husky porridge with double cream.  After a while a faint note of strawberry jam.  The taste is sweet and lightly meaty, with some spice and gentle acidity towards the end and a warming finish.  

 Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve – £42.00 – The Whisky Shop

 An intriguing single malt whisky from Japan’s first distillery, the Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve new release is sure to hit the right note with your Dad this Father’s Day. 

 The Japanese whisky differs from its Scottish cousins as it is a vatting of different styles of whisky as well as different cask types in comparison to Scotch malt which is predominantly from distilleries specialising in one style of whisky.

Tasting Note: Full gold.  A gentle, elegant fragrance topped by soft fruit – strawberry, white peach, cherry – and backed by sweet tobacco leaf.  A smooth texture and a sweet taste, with a crisp acidity, traces of coconut and a medium-length, warming finish, leaving a hint of planed oak.  

Andrew Torrance, Managing Director of The Whisky Shop, said: “Whisky is the perfect gift for Father’s Day and The Whisky Shop has an unrivalled collection of malts and blends to suit all tastes and budgets.

“Whether you join your dad in sharing a dram, or leave him to enjoy his whisky experience in peace, we have something to suit every palate.”

The Whisky Shop is the UK’s largest whisky only specialist retailer with a full range available online at www.whiskyshop.com and at 22 stores nationwide, including premium flagships in London’s Piccadilly and on Manchester’s Exchange Street. 

For further information please visit www.whiskyshop.com

TOP PICKS

• Glenfiddich 18 year, Ancient Reserve Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($79.99)
  96 points Wine Enthusiast: ” *Top 50 Spirits 2013* Luxe and easy-sipping. Look for enticing notes of butterscotch, baked pear, cinnamon and clove on the nose and palate, swathed in just the right amount of smokiness. ” (12/2013) K&L Notes: Special Order Only! Special order items are not in stock and are dependent upon quantity available from distribution. All special orders are final and non-refundable. Will take 3-7 business days to receive this product before it can be shipped. Silver medal 2007 International Wine & Spirit Competition. The Glenfiddich 18 year old has a delightfully rich aroma reminisce of ripe orchard fruit, spiced apples and robust oakiness. The palate is luxurious and warming, with dried fruit, candied zest and dates buoyed by subtle Spanish Oloroso wood notes.
• Macallan “Fine Oak” 17 Year Old Single Malt 750ml ($149.99)
  96-100 points Wine Enthusiast: “The luscious Speyside bouquet offers layers of aromas that include smoke, wood, touches of palm oil, browned butter, vanilla bean and pork rind. The palate entry is rich, bittersweet, caramel-like and creamy; at the wonderful midpalate the taste turns sweeter, nuttier and more fudge-like. Finishes elegantly, yet very focused, and integrated. Delicious. ” (04/2008) 94 points Whisky Advocate: “Another of the Fine Oak series (aged in both bourbon and sherry casks), which will debut in the U.S. in March. Of the five Fine Oak expressions that will be in the U.S. (10, 15, 17, 21, and 30 year old), this is my favorite, slightly besting the 15 year old. Lovely sweet notes (creamy vanilla, light toffee, marshmallow, shortbread, and a kiss of honey) are accompanied by bright fruit (multi-layered citrus) and potpourri of dried spices, along with a hint of nut and wisp of smoke. A very refined and sophisticated whisky. (Vol. 15, #1)” Wine Spectator: “This deep, riveting whisky eschews the delicate qualities for straight-ahead sugar and spice. The nose expresses nougat, graham cracker and butterscotch, while it’s all spice and hard candy in the mouth, with a preponderance of licorice. Finishes long, with more candy notes. Bourbon, American oak and Sherry casks.” (02/2011) K&L Notes: The Macallan has extended its Fine Oak range of single malt Highland Scotch whiskies with the introduction of a 17 year old expression. The whisky continues the success of The Macallan Fine Oak 10, 15 and 21 Years Old, which the distillery introduced in November 2004 and Fine Oak 30 Years Old, just launched in June 2005. Since its introduction, The Macallan Fine Oak, a lighter expression of the traditional Macallan, has expanded the brand’s audience in the U.S. and has received numerous industry accolades. Daniel Goodwin, senior brand manager, said that the 17 Years Old would broaden the appeal of the fine oak range. He added: “The lighter, more modern flavour expressions of the Fine Oak range resonates with whisky connoisseurs and novices alike. Fine Oak 17 expands upon a completely unique line of super-premium single malt Scotches.” 94 points, The Malt Advocate
• Elijah Craig 12 year old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #387 Bourbon 750ml (ships as a 1.5L) ($26.99)
  This cask contained twice as much whiskey as #8446 (20 cases) and as expected it couldn’t be more different. This is definitely going to be very familiar to some readers, but it’s totally outside the flavor range of the other casks. Here we’ve got incredible freshness with aromas of spiced apple, subtle nuttiness, red apple skin, dried herbs, and a hint of maple syrup. Texturally, this is surprisingly rich considering it was the largest cask, which logically means it’s less concentrated, but apparently not. On the palate it’s definitely the feistiest of the three casks in this lot, showing strong oak spice, which dry the maple syrup quality on the front palate nicely. This has the longest finish of the three and moves into the fresh tobacco flavors with a building spice (cinnamon, clove, etc.) character. Crazy contrast between the relatively restrained nose and the powerful attack in the mouth.
• Lost Spirits Distillery Leviathan III Single Malt Whiskey 750ml ($54.99)
  Can you believe we’re already on batch three of the Leviathan series? Made from 100% California barley and peated with 100% Canadian peat, the Leviathan whiskies from Bryan Davis represent his most mainstream work to date. Heaps of smoke and vegetal earth power this bold and brash Pacific Coast single malt. The peat dominates the nose, but the green-planted goodness overwhelms the finish with hints of salt and phenolic action. I think I taste fresh-picked carrots after a few minutes of letting the flavors develop. WARNING: the Lost Spirits whiskies are not for the unadventurous. These are wildly savage single malts with assertive and challenging profiles!

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

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

Scotch Tasting
Tuesday April 22nd.
4:30 P.M. or 6:00 P.M.
Benriach & Glendronach
with Alistair Walker

I was told once by an industry-insider that Billy Walker has one of the best noses and palates in the Business. Billy has been doing great work in the whisky industry for many years but the last ten years have been very special. In 2004 he and a group of investors purchased the Benriach Distillery. Although it has been open for more than 100 years, distillation was not actually taking place for more than half of that time. Because of their on-site malting facilities, they spent many years malting barley for other operations but not actively distilling it themselves.

The group then purchased Glendronach in 2008 and I remember the day well — I looked up to the heavens and said “Thank You” because the U.S. never saw very much of their wonderful sherried single-malts. Then in 2013 the group acquired Glenglassaugh Distillery. Glenglassuagh is another distillery with a checkered past, but now it will get the love and attention it deserves, and flourish as it should.

We will focus on Benriach & Glendronach Distilleries in the tasting this coming Tuesday. Both have a great standard line-up that this time around we will skip but they’re ranges that we will show and work more with in the future. Billy’s talent for cask-selection shows when you taste any of his products, but especially in the limited single-casks we’ll be tasting next Tuesday. Quantities are limited and we are taking orders starting immediately for bottles that can be signed by Billy’s son, Alistair. This batch of casks from both Benriach and Glendronach are some of the best whisky that has come this way, and the depth and intricacy that they show are splendid. These are single malts that you (and those lucky few for whom you pour them) will remember for years after they are gone. In obtaining these Limited Releases I made a few people crazy — this state can be very hard to say the least. The sale price today reflect the pricing from last year but I believe that more increases are coming. There is not a bad apple in the bunch and they are they are all just precious.

Benriach Heart of Speyside
Colour; Amber/ gold.
Nose; Fresh heather, fruit, honey, nuts and oak wood.
Palate: This expression cleverly captures fruit, honey, heather and spice notes, against a back drop of
mellow oak wood in a fresh and lively combination.
Regular: $41.99 Sale: $37.99

Benriach 2000 12 Y.O. 58.1% Oloroso Sherry Finish (34 days short of a 13 Y.O.)
Nose; Fresh oak spices roll over sweet golden sultanas and hints of ripe cantaloupe melon.
Palate; Creme caramel and rum-soaked sultanas balanced with cracked black pepper and sweet ripped mint.
Regular: $104.99 Sale: $92.99

Benriach 1994 19 Y.O. 53.2% Peated / Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish
Color; Antique Gold
Nose; Mellow citrus smoke drapes over green apple and apricots.
Palate: Orange- zested roasted apples are engulfed by sweet, spicy oak smoke and spice.
Regular: $164.99 Sale: $149.99

Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 2
Color; Rich golden amber with a crimson heart.
Nose: Wonderful rich aromas of honey drenched raisins and sultanas. Candied ginger and orange peel are spiced with a beautifully delicate back note of oak.
Palate: A perfectly balanced traditional sherried character. An explosion of chocolate coated raisins and zest of orange, mellowed with sweet warm oak spices, hints of soft toffee and gentle sugared almonds.
Finish; A uniquely balanced classic finish.
Regular: $139.99 Sale: $110.00

Glendronach 1996 – 17 Y.O. 53.2% Single Cask Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon
Color: Rich Burnt Amber
Nose: Toffee and fudge hold the rich dark fruits and oak spices
Palate: Chocolate and treacle combine with vanilla – laced prune syrup and figs; robust oak spices balance the sweet flavor explosion.
Regular: $154.99 Sale: $139.99

Glendronach 1992 – 21 Y.O. 59.3% Oloroso Sherry Butt
Color; Dark mahogany with rich ruby.
Nose; Crisp fresh- cut herbs and orange zest mingle with dark rum soaked raisins and currants.
Palate; Herbal stewed plums and orange bitters rolling to ground almonds and soft clove in a rich, traditional sherried finish.
Regular: $209.99 Sale: $189.99

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits
________________________________________
Email: joe@federalwine.com
Phone: (617) 367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

THE MACALLAN UNVEILS MASTERS OF TASTE COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD’S BEST RESTAURANT, EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA 

The Macallan today unveils its latest exciting collaboration – The Macallan Masters of Taste – bringing together the supreme craft and innovation of two of the world’s leading masters to create the ultimate taste experience. 

Sitting at the very top of the World’s Best 50 restaurants*, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain has come together with The Macallan, the world’s ultimate luxury single malt Scotch whisky, to collaborate and innovate in the field of taste and cuisine. 

The Roca Brothers – Joan, Josep and Jordi – have combined their collective vision and diverse skills to extraordinary effect that saw them secure the world number one position in April 2013. A Catalan family restaurant at heart, El Celler de Can Roca’s philosophy is grounded in an evolutionary and modern approach. 

The Macallan continues to sit at the pinnacle of single malt whisky, by combining an unwavering commitment to the highest quality with a passion and desire to innovate and challenge the traditions of whisky making. 

Together these partners share the core values of craft, mastery, skill and innovation and have collaboratively crafted a new vision of bringing the worlds of whisky making and craft cuisine together to create something totally unique. 

The Masters of Taste will see The Macallan and the Roca Brothers unite their creativity and thinking to create an ultimate experience in taste. 

Ken Grier, Director of The Macallan, said, “We are truly excited and honoured to be collaborating with the Roca Brothers to launch this major new initiative. Joan, Josep and Jordi are not only inspirational; they are world-class innovators whose commitment to their craft is exceptional”. 

Whisky and cuisine have a long-standing connection but never have any two partners come together to really explore what this could, and should mean. Our collaboration is set to break down classic perceptions of food pairing and enter into a whole new, awe-inspiring world of taste and flavour experience.” 

Commenting on the collaboration, Josep Roca of El Celler de Can Roca said, “It is both a pleasure and an exciting challenge to work with The Macallan team. We combine knowledge, effort and hard work to improve in areas that individually we could have never imagined we could achieve, and all that with a strong commitment to innovation.” 

The most immediate outcome of this exciting new collaboration will be “The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca”, six prestigious charity dinners held at El Celler de Can Roca during June and July 2014. 

The dinners are open to a very limited number of people globally at a cost of $10,000 per head. With a key focus on charitable giving, the net proceeds from the dinners, together with a further contribution from The Macallan will go to charity. The restaurant will open exclusively for these dinners on the six dates in June and July 2014**. 

“The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca” will involve the most exquisite combination of gastronomy and whisky making. From exclusively designed dishes, inspired by the flavour and character of The Macallan, to an outstanding range of The Macallan whiskies from unreleased single cask malts through to M, the world’s most expensive whisky, The Macallan in Lalique 62 year old and the oldest single malt ever released by The Macallan distillery. The combination of this menu and the collection of fine whiskies served are being exclusively created for these charity dinners and will not be served anywhere in the world aside from on these six occasions. 

This exciting partnership is underpinned by Spain and the significance it plays in how both partners have evolved and are shaped today. For The Macallan its inherent connection with Spain is extremely strong through its commitment to Spanish oak sherry seasoned casks. This factor is the most influential in the final flavour and character of this single malt. For El Celler de Can Roca, their Spanish heritage has heavily shaped their ethos and enabled them to establish themselves as the leading force in Spanish cuisine. 

For more information on booking “The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca” please visit: www.themacallan.com, email themacallan@rocadinners.com, or call +34 93 222 33 44 (from 9:00 – 18:00 GMT+1 time). 

* Organised by Restaurant magazine, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 900 international restaurant industry experts. What constitutes “best” is left to the judgement of these trusted and well-travelled gourmets. www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners/el-cellerde- can-roca/ 

** There are only six available dates: June: Sunday 29th and Monday 30th. July: Sunday 6th, Monday 7th, Sunday 20th and Monday 21st. The restaurant will be exclusively opened on these dates

for these charity dinners only as it is usually closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Follow us on Twitter: @The_Macallan, @CanRocaCeller, #macallanmasters 

Notes

About The Macallan
Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the worlds most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars. An obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by a 150 hectare estate, with Easter Elchies House, a Highland manor built in 1700, at its heart. Traditionally known for maturation in Spanish

oak, sherry seasoned casks, The Macallan’s range of outstanding single malts includes: Sherry Oak, matured in Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry; Fine Oak, matured both in sherry casks of Spanish and American oak and in American oak casks seasoned with bourbon; the 1824 range, exclusive to Global Travel Retail. In addition, The Macallan is well known for its great range of vintage whiskies, dating back to 1926, and is considered the most sought after of all single malts among collectors and connoisseurs at auction.

www.themacallan.com 

About El Celler de Can Roca

Founded in 1986, El Celler de Can Roca became the best restaurant in the world in 2013. El Celler de Can Roca is a freestyle restaurant, committed to the avant-garde but still faithful to the memory of the family’s ancestors who were dedicated to feeding people. The brothers Joan and Josep Roca founded it in August 1986, in Girona. Joan in the kitchen and Josep in the dining room. The final addition was the youngest brother, Jordi, who joined the kitchen of El Celler de Can Roca in 1998. El Celler de Can Roca’s commitment to cuisine and its link to academia, has led it to champion the dialogue between the countryside and science. All the leading restaurant guides and gastronomy critics have acknowledged El Celler de Can Roca achievements over its first twenty-five years. The first Michelin star was awarded in 1995; the second in 2002 and the third on November 25, 2009. In 2014, it still holds three Michelin stars.

www.cellercanroca.com

Supergroup ‘TIRED PONY’ added to Bushmills Live™ line-up

Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Peter Buck (REM), Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian) and multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer, Iain Archer to perform at festival of handcrafted whiskey and music 

Bushmills Village: April, 2014 

Tired Pony, the critically-acclaimed supergroup created by Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, were today confirmed to appear at the intimate ‘Bushmills Live’ festival on Ireland’s north coast on June 12, 2014. It will be the band’s first ever performance in Ireland. 

Lightbody’s appreciation of country music led to him calling on his friends within the music industry to help him make an album and TIRED PONY is the result. The band features Lightbody; REM’s Peter Buck; Belle & Sebastian’s Richard Colburn; and fellow artists Iain Archer; Jacknife Lee; Scott McCaughey and Troy Stewart. 

‘Bushmills Live 2014’ will be headlined by breakthrough British act ‘The 1975’ with more acts still to be announced. Whiskey and music fans will be invited to the Old Bushmills Distillery on June 11-12 for the world’s only festival of handcrafted whiskey and music in an Irish whiskey distillery. 700 festival-goers will witness emerging and iconic artists sharing the stage for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings, where the art of making whiskey has been perfected over centuries. 

The ‘money-can’t-buy’ festival tickets are not on general release. Instead, whiskey and music fans can win the chance of enjoying the unique Bushmills Live experience, to include flights and accommodation, by entering a draw at facebook.com/bushmills.  The draw closes on April 28 (April 18 in Russia). 

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Master Distiller Colum Egan said: “I’m delighted that Gary is coming back to the distillery along with Tired Pony.  Tired Pony have had special guests perform with them in the past. Who knows who will turn up in June? 

“This year’s festival is shaping up to be the best yet. The combination of excellent whiskey, appreciated responsibly, among friends and great music can’t be beaten. It’s why we started Bushmills Live in the first place.” 

Notes

Bushmills Live is an annual music festival which hosts both iconic and emerging artists for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the historic Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of distilling has been perfected over generations. 

Competition:

The Facebook competition is open to people in:

Portugal, Germany, Russia, USA, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland.

From each country, one winner will win a pair of tickets to ‘Bushmills Live’.

Keep up with Bushmills Irish Whiskey at: Facebook: facebook.com/bushmills
Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal

About ‘TIRED PONY’ 

TIRED PONY are Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Peter Buck (REM), Iain Archer, Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian), Scott McCaughey, Troy Stewart and producer/multi-instrumentalist Garret “Jacknife” Lee. They have released two albums: 2010’s The Place We Ran From and last year’s The Ghost of the Mountain. 

About ‘The 1975’

‘The 1975’ are an English alternative rock/indie band based in Manchester. The group consists of Matthew Healy (vocals/guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums) and Ross MacDonald (bass). Their self-titled debut album was released on 2 September 2013 and debuted at No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart. 

About Bushmills Irish Whiskey


Bushmills Irish Whiskey is hand crafted in small batches for a smooth taste at Ireland’s oldest working distillery, in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery’s portfolio includes seven award-winning variants: Bushmills, Bushmills Black Bush™, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, our anniversary edition, Bushmills 1608 and Bushmills Irish Honey Spirit Drink. 

About Diageo


Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s, Windsor 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 and its brands, visit www.diageo.com. For Diageo’s global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.

Spring is here, and the time is right for the next Gauntley’s Whisky Tasting evening!

After the success of our first event back in February we have been inundated with requests to have another Whisky tasting evening. Bowing to public pressure, and the wish to try some stunning whiskies, we have decided that the next evening will be on:)

Wednesday 23^rd April 2014. Start time will be 7pm and the tasting will be held at the Gauntleys Of Nottingham shop.

Tickets for this event are priced at £40.00 per person. We will be tasting 6 wonderful, and in some cases, unusual whiskies. As per last time, there will be a range of styles of whisky to taste so there will be something to suit everyone. Snacks will be available as will plenty of water!

Tickets are limited and are bound to go fast, so please call 01159 110555 to purchase your ticket.

We look forward to seeing you on the evening.

Chris and Eann

Gauntleys Of Nottingham