THE NAKED TRUTH 

The Naked Grouse blended Scotch whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has unveiled its updated new look. Reinforcing the brand’s premium positioning, the distinctive updated packaging exudes quality, combining craft and luxury to reflect the simple, hand-crafted blend inside.

The Naked Grouse is a unique and expertly crafted, small batch blended Scotch whisky containing hand-blended world- renowned malts that combine to produce a sweet, rich and smooth taste. The exceptional blend was inspired by William Gloag of The Famous Grouse family and his pioneering discovery of sherry cask maturation. This innovative process, along with an enduring legacy of expertise, creates a stunning example of the blender’s art. 

The subtle enhancements highlight the honest simplicity behind The Naked Grouse. The simple yet striking bottle, etched with a picture of the drink’s emblem, now comes complete with a cardboard and string neck tag describing the brand story and craftsmanship behind this unique blend. 

Johna Penman, Marketing Controller of Maxxium UK commented: ‘As an award-winning liquid, The Naked Grouse reflects our passion to create a simple, great tasting, premium spirit. We are very proud of the collaborative effort and innovative processes behind the making of The Naked Grouse and feel it’s important for us to engage with our target consumer and celebrate the growing interest in artisan craft brands in the UK.  The recent rise in popularity of craft positioned brands presents an opportunity to tell our story and recruit new consumers into Blended Scotch, making it a more relevant category for a new generation of drinkers. ’ 

The whisky is available in high end bars and retail outlets such as Sainsbury’s. RRP £25 

www.drinkaware.co.uk 

Notes

About Maxxium UK

• Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Inc and Edrington.

• Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club, Red Stag), cognac and brandy (Courvoisier and Fundador), sherry (Harveys), vodka (Stolichnaya), tequila (Sauza), rum (Brugal and Cruzan), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, Vaccari, After Shock)

Whisky Dinner: San Jose

Thursday, July 30, 2014 – 6pm – 8pm
Mosaic Asian-Fusion Restaurant
211 S. First St., San Jose , California 95113
$70 all inclusive  

Join us for the summer whisky dinner in a casually upscale restaurant specializing in Asian fusion cuisine. Duncan Taylor is one of the highest end Independent Bottlers. They either buy the best casks from distilleries or they purchase new spirit from the distillery and age it in their own casks. Peter Currie, the Duncan Taylor brand ambassador and expert of all things Scotch, will joyfully conduct the pairing. The Mosaic chef has carefully crafted a five course menu including a dessert to enjoy with these great whiskies:

Black Bull
Big Smoke
Linkwood 14 yr
Mortlach 15yr
Macallan 17
SpringBank 20yr Sherry Cask ‘The Single’ ($500)

Menu (Please inform us of dietary restrictions and we will provide alternate selections)

Welcome cocktail hour: Smoked Gouda, Mustard Cheese, Parmesan, Grapes, Cold Cuts, Crackers

Course 1: Baby Field Green Salad

Course 2: Dungeness Crab Cake

Course 3: Roasted French Lamb Chop

Course 4: Roasted Bell Pepper Bruschetta

Dessert: Mini Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee

And if you feel the need, stick around after dinner to enjoy a cigar with a whisky nightcap. (I’ll have cigars for $10 if you don’t bring your own)

Slainte,

Douglas Smith,

Event Director

Brand new seriously collectable whisky now available to order right here at The Whisky Shop! All orders will be completed on a strictly first come first served basis.

Dalmore Custodian

The Dalmore 1263 Custodian Bottling is an extremely rare expression of The Dalmore, initially made available to Dalmore Custodians. There were only 421 bottles of this expression produced, and it was bottled at cask strength. The single cask was laid to rest in 2000 and was initially matured in American ex-bourbon wood and then transferred into a Matusalem Oloroso Sherry Cask, before being bottled in 2012.

Nose: Caramelised orange, sweet pear and ripe mango

Palate: Toffee apple, pineapple and Madeira cak

Finish: Muscovado, roast coffee and cocoa

Click here to buy – £90

Jura Elixir 12 year old

A legend based on the water found on Jura, the water’s said to have life giving properties. Aged in a mix of American White Oak and Sherry casks.

Nose: Fruity and spicy with hints of cinnamon and citrus.
Palate: A combination of flavours including crushed almonds, pineapple and fresh roasted coffee. The palate is rewarded with hints of citrus fruit, dark toffee and ginger spice.
Finish: Soft and delicate – long.

Click here to buy – £49

The Old Pulteney Clipper Limited Edition

The brand new release fom Old Pulteney is now available to order via The Whisky Shop. Matured in ex bourbon and ex sherry casks, this bottling was created in honour of team clipper in the round the world yacht race!

Nose: Sweetness of dried fruits and crispiness of green apples is accompanied by notes of fresh vanilla and white chocolate
Taste: Waves of honey and orange zest, a rounded oaky structure and an unmistakable coastal note which sets Old Pulteney apart.
Finish: Smooth and long-lasting
Bottled at 46% volume.

Click here to buy – £50

Jura Festival Bottling

To kick off the first ever Tastival – Jura created a whisky with an intriguing & uncommon smorgasbord of flavours. It has been created using a careful selection of ex bourbon American white oak casks from their warehouses and enhanced that whisky in 6 different oak barriques from France. Wood sourced from the ancient forests within the regions of Jupilles, Les Bertanges, Limousin, Troncais, Allier, Vosges has been used to craft around a dozen unique barriques.

Colour – Rich Amber
Nose – Banana, Pineapple, Marzipan
Taste –Wine Gums, liquorice allsorts and Caramel

Simply click here to buy £95

Yamazaki 25 year old

A rare chance to purchase one of the most sought after Japanese single malts of all time. This super premium whisky carefully vatted from key malts and aged over 25 years in sherry butts. It’s available in limited quantities and almost impossible to purchase here in the UK.

Nose gorgeous aroma (burnt sugar, scented handbag, almond oil).
Palate: Taste of canvas, burnt orange peel
Finish: Aftertaste of coal smoke.
Tasting Notes by Charles MacLean, at The World Whiskies Awards 2012

£1100 Click here to buy

Glendronach Batch 10 Single Cask Whiskies

It’s that time of year again and Highland distiller Glendronach are gearing up to release their much anticipated single cask bottling series. These whiskies, unlike other single malts, are not a blend of multiple casks, rather these editions are limited to the whisky yielded from just one cask – making them inherently limited.

Glendronach specialise in using casks that previously held sherry in them. The result is a rich, chocolatey flavour with additional notes of dried fruits and spices. Furthermore all of these whiskies are bottled at cask strength, without the addition of colouring nor chill-filtration. They basically pour the whisky out of the cask and sieve out the bits of floating wood – you can’t get much purer than that!

Glendronach 1990
Cask 2970
Pedro Ximenez Puncheon
24 Years Old
51.3%abv
£136.95

Appearance: Rich crimson velvet.
Nose: Generous dustings of allspice over sundried raisins and roasted coffee beans with a delicate barley background.
Palate: Initial intense rich molasses and dark bitter chocolate harmonise with fragrant, toasted oak spice.

Glendronach 1991
Cask 1346
Pedro Ximenez Puncheon
22 Years Old
52.1%abv
£117.95

Appearance: A ruby heart in burnt amber.
Nose: Crisp white pepper and citrus zest flood through dates and sultanas. Hints of ginger and nutmeg give an earthy depth.
Palate: Crisp, fresh oak spices develop to rich orange marmalade drenched over plums, dried prunes and dark chocolate.

Glendronach 1994
Cask 3397
Pedro Ximenez Puncheon
19 Years Old
53.8%abv
£95.95

Appearance: Deep crimson mahogany.
Nose: Luxurious chocolate warmed by aromatic herbs and toasted spices, paired with rum-soaked raisins and sultanas.
Palate: Sumptuous depths of sweet dates and ripe figs hold a fantastic crisp, herbal balance. Milk chocolate rolls through the robust sherry character.

Glendronach 1995
Cask 3025
Pedro Ximenez Puncheon
18 Years Old
51.1%abv
£91.95

Appearance: Antique golden oak.
Nose: A beautiful balance of sherry-soaked apricots and sultanas combines with hazelnut, ground almonds and toasted oak.
Palate: Fresh green apple develops to prunes and raisins with a vibrant spice note of ginger, black pepper and soft clove oil.

Glendronach 1996
Cask 1487
Pedro Ximenez Puncheon
18 Years Old
54.1%abv
£91.95

Appearance: Polished cherry wood.
Nose: An enriched combination of dark Demerara sugar and espresso spiced by gentle herbs and soft touches of liquorice.
Palate: Classic chocolate and orange merge with floods of rich plum juice. Roasted coffee beans enhance the full body and a crisp zest adds a fresh edge to the finish.

Glendronach 2002
Cask 1500
Pedro Ximenez Puncheon
12 Years Old
56.7%abv
£58.95

Appearance: Bright amber with a ruby core.
Nose: Intense waves of treacle toffee and dark fruits are lightened by slight hints of mint and soft clove.
Palate: Sweet figs and chocolate-covered raisins dusted with vanilla are spiced by subtle cigar smoke, candied peel and stem ginger.

NEW ARRIVALS

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Balmenach-Glenlivet 15 Year Old Cadenhead’s Single Malt 750ml – 1 available ($699.99)

• Cragganmore 17 Year Old The Manager’s Dram Single Malt Scotch (Previously $600) – 1 available ($399.99)

• 1966 Glen Albyn 18 Year Old Cadenhead’s Single Malt 750ml – 1 available ($599.99)

• 1969 Linkwood-Glenlivet 21 Year Old Special Individual Cask Selection Cadenhead’s Single Malt 750ml – 4 available ($699.99)

• 1956 Macallan-Glenlivet 24 Year Old Cadenhead’s Single Malt 750ml – 1 available ($3,999.99)

• 1967 Rosebank 20 Year Old Cadenhead’s Single Malt 750ml – 1 available ($1,499.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Corbin Cash Merced Rye Whiskey 750ml ($46.99)

United States – Single Malt Scotch

• Westland American Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($69.99)

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

WORLD-CLASS GOLFER IAN POULTER ANNOUNCED AS FOUNDING CAPTAIN OF INNOVATIVE NEW BALLANTINE’S ONLINE GOLF CLUB

Ballantine’s, the world’s No 2 Scotch whisky and part of the Pernod Ricard family of brands, yesterday announced the launch of the Ballantine’s Golf Club; a unique and innovative online Golf Club, inspired by golf and its lifestyle and aimed at those who share an appreciation of golf and a love of fine whisky. Ian Poulter will be the Club’s first ever Captain and registrations for the Club are open now at www.ballantinesgolfclub.com, with the site due to launch in full this October 2014. 

Membership to the Ballantine’s Golf Club will offer unique access to exclusive content, invitational events, whisky tastings, VIP hospitality and a range of member rewards, as well as the chance to meet and play with top players and participate in a member-only global tournament. 

Leading Sports Presenter, Di Dougherty, hosted the launch event – held just ahead of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, at which Ballantine’s is the Official Whisky Sponsor – and announced Ian Poulter as the inaugural Club Captain. Ballantine’s also screened a world premiere of ‘Moments of Truth’, a mini-documentary featuring Ian Poulter and offering a unique insight into Poulter’s own back story and psyche; watch it in full at www.ballantinesgolfclub.com. 

The ‘Moments of Truth’ film is part of a series, which will focus on moments in golf that have changed the course of a golfer’s career, seeing them Stay True to themselves and to their own courage and determination. The ‘Moments of Truth’ series will feature exclusive stories from respected figures in the world of golf over the coming year, all of which will be showcased within the Ballantine’s Golf Club. 

Throughout the season, http://www.ballantinesgolfclub.com/ will be updated with further exclusive content including ‘Shot Makers’, which features swing and course management tips from professionals, ‘Captain’s Diary’ updates from Ian Poulter and further mini-documentaries. The site will then be fully populated and unveiled in October 2014, when registered members will have an even wider range of content at their fingertips. 

Ian Poulter said: “It is an honour to be the Founding Captain of the Ballantine’s Golf Club. Ballantine’s has long had an association with golf and it’s fantastic to be a part of a truly unique club where, like me, the members will share an appreciation of whisky and the true spirit of golf”. 

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s added: “We have a tremendous heritage in golf dating back to 1960; however the Ballantine’s Golf Club marks a significant shift in our strategy within the sport. In addition to our continued support for tournaments across the golfing calendar, the introduction of the Ballantine’s Golf Club will allow us to reach an increasing number of golf fans, who share an appreciation of good whisky, all around the world”. 

The Ballantine’s Golf Club was inspired by the brand’s ‘Stay True’ positioning, which serves as an invitation to consumers to express themselves in a genuine and authentic way, applauding conviction and self-belief. The identity of the Golf Club reflects its members’ modern lifestyle and aspirational outlook, building on Ballantine’s strong heritage in golf in a contemporary and innovative way. 

Members can register to join the Ballantine’s Golf Club now at www.ballantinesgolfclub.com, where the first ‘Moments of Truth’ film featuring Ian Poulter can also be viewed.

Notes 

About Ballantine’s:

Ballantine’s is the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the world’s No 2 Scotch whisky by volume, and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827. 

About Ballantine’s in golf:

Ballantine’s has a rich history in golf dating back to 1960 when the first Ballantine’s sponsored golf tournament was played at Wentworth Club in England. Ballantine’s founded the Ballantine’s Championship in 2008, remaining title sponsor of the tournament until 2013. Ballantine’s has also been a sponsor of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open since 2007 and the BMW Masters in Shanghai, China, since 2012.  

About Chivas Brothers:

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

The Glenlivet Guardians Chapter limited edition is now available to purchase at The Whisky Shop! Stocks of this rare single malt are very limited and all orders will be dealt with on a first come first served basis.

Simply Click here to buy – £63

Hand selected by members of the Guardians of The Glenlivet – This expression was created using a subtle mixture of casks including Hogsheads and American oak barrels with the addition of a proportion of whisky from Spanish ex-sherry butts to provide a rich, exotic twist.

A classic inspired by The Glenlivet’s timeless sweet style

Tasting Notes

Nose: Sweet toffee with hints of creamy nougat
Palate: Soft caramel toffee with notes of honey
Finish: Long and tangy

Bottled at 48.7% ABV

Just Whisky’s July Auction is now LIVE. Highlights of the auction are bottles we’ve rarely seen at auction at all over the past few years. From the Moon Imports ‘Cars’ collection, an ultra low volume Aberlour (1 of 37) A’Bunadh Silver, the incredible Bowmore 1955 and very rare appearance of a beautiful Macallan Cask 888 has us excited this month. 

Of course not all the auction lots are so expensive and hard to find. Those of you into more reasonably priced drams will find plenty to bid on and enjoy. Feis Ile bottles aplenty, sherried, port finished, the smokey and sweet – you’ll find it all this month in Just Whisky’s biggest auction. 

The Auction runs until Sunday 20^th July at 8PM. Check it out at www.just-whisky.co.uk

A couple of Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve private barrels have just come in:

Buffalo Trace Bourbon TPS Private Barrel – $22.49
We have the first of three selections coming in at just under 10 Years old.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
TPS Private Barrel – $57.99
 
We are anxiously awaiting our private Masterson Rye.

In the past two weeks our tasting panel tasted and selected barrel samples from Jefferson Reserve and Jack Daniels. We are quite excited about the barrels we chose.

The inaugural release from our neighbors at New Riff Distilling has just hit The Party Source shelves!

New Riff O.K.I. Straight Bourbon Whiskey 8 Year – $44.99
New Riff OKI Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey 8 Year is comprised of just three barrels. O.K.I. Bourbon Whiskey deftly balances the spicy wallop of a 35% rye grain bill, with the oaky confection of eight-plus years of age. It enters the mouth gently, picking up the rye theme at mid-palate and jamming on from there. The finish is like a swirling cloud of clove-and-pepper rye spice. Hats off to the master distiller of Lawrenceburg, Indiana on a job well done! This unfiltered Bourbon whiskey is scrumptious taken straight up, but opens further with a splash of water. -Jay Erisman

Four Roses is considered one of the best bourbon distilleries in the world. Four Roses utilizes ten distinct recipes and five proprietary yeast strains to produce award winning bourbons. We will taste our way through four bourbons including two non-chill filtered cask strength bourbons.

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon
Four Roses TPS OBSV (50% abv, 10 Years 10 months)
Four Roses TPS OESV (58.1% abv, 10 Years 1 month)
Four Roses Limited Single Barrel 2014 (OESF, 62.2% abv, 11 Year)

WHAT: The Four Roses Experience
WHERE: The Party Source Spirits Library
WHEN: Tuesday, July 22nd from 6:30-8:00 pm
COST: $15

>>>Click HERE to Reserve Your Seat

This week Joe Ellis reviews the new Master of Malt Reference series in this new comparison review! 

http://youtu.be/rrfT5PP7Za0 

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