OLD PULTENEY CELEBRATES THE HOMECOMING OF ITS CLIPPER YACHT WITH A COMMEMORATIVE BOTTLING

This week Old Pulteney – The Maritime Malt – celebrates the completion of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2014 by the crew of brave men and women on board a yacht named after the iconic Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The race started eleven months ago and saw the Old Pulteney rose of winds carried proudly to France, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, China, United States of America, Panama, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, The Netherlands and back to the starting point in London, UK. The brand’s involvement in this classic feat of sea adventuring is a natural continuation of the long and rich maritime heritage of the town of Wick on the Caithness Coast in the Northern Highlands of Scotland, where Pulteney Distillery was built in 1826 and where it produces its multi-award-winning Scotch whisky until this day.

The staff and management at Pulteney Distillery took the opportunity to thank all the crew members and the Skipper Partick van der Zijden for their tremendous effort and for representing Old Pulteney all around the world this past year. The Old Pulteney crew have shown rare determination and courage and successfully completed the race despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Margaret Mary Clarke, the Old Pulteney Global Brand Manager, said:

“As a whisky built on its maritime history and connections, it has been an enormous thrill to be part of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Race and to have witnessed the ‘Old Pulteney’ speed from port to port over the past year.”

Old Pulteney Clipper Commemorative Bottling

To mark the occasion Old Pulteney will release a special commemorative bottling of its whisky. Old Pulteney Clipper will be made available in July 2014 at select retailers world-wide. The limited release will feature a Clipper Round the World Yacht Race -themed packaging and the whisky itself will be a classic expression of Old Pulteney, matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The whisky will be presented at its natural colour, non chill-filtered and at a premium strength of 46% ABV. Only 2,700 cases of this rare bottling will ever be released and the recommended retail price in the UK is £50.

The appearance of the whisky is that of polished gold. On the nose the sweetness of dried fruits and crispiness of green apples is accompanied by notes of fresh vanilla and white chocolate. On the palate waves of honey and orange zest, a rounded oaky structure and an unmistakable coastal note set this fresh and elegant Old Pulteney apart. The finish is smooth and long-lasting.

Maritime Malt

The heritage of Old Pulteney Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is closely interwoven with that of the port town of Wick. Once a thriving herring fishing port where as many as one thousand vessels could crowd the harbour in the fishing season, Wick was famously reported to produce ‘barrels of silver’ (salted herring) and ‘barrels of gold’ (single malt whisky). Set up to quench the thirst of a busy port, the distillery soon became recognised for producing one of the finest spirits in the world. And even though the fishing industry in Wick is well past its prime, traditional production methods, a wealth of experience and the coastal location which lends a distinctly maritime character to the whisky, keep Old Pulteney firmly in the whisky lover’s spotlight.

AWARD-WINNING GlenDronach Distillery has today (July 14th) released Batch 10 of its renowned single cask bottlings.

Nine outstanding casks, ranging from 1990 to 2002, were selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker. Each one of these casks from the Aberdeenshire distillery is an excellent example of the typical GlenDronach character with tastes of sweet dates, raisins, dark chocolate, toasted oak spice and roasted coffee beans.

The cask details are:

1990 cask # 2970 / 24 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 51.3%

1991 cask # 1346 / 22 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 52.1%

1992 cask # 199 / 22 Years Old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 59.4%

1993 cask # 494 / 21 Years Old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 55.8%

1994 cask # 326 / 19 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.5%

1994 cask # 3397 / 19 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.8%

1995 cask # 3025 / 18 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 51.1%

1996 cask # 1487 / 18 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 54.1%

2002 cask # 1500 / 12 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 56.7%

Master Distiller Billy Walker said: “Our batch releases of single casks bottlings are eagerly awaited by whisky connoisseurs worldwide and Batch 10 is truly astonishing in both its quality and style. 

“Each cask was selected because of its excellent GlenDronach character. For example, on the nose, 1990 cask # 2970 has generous dustings of allspice over sundried raisins and roasted coffee beans with a delicate barley background. As a contrast, the 1995 cask # 3025 shows fresh green apple developing to prunes and raisins with a vibrant spice note of ginger, black pepper and soft clove oil on the palate. 

“And the youngest expression of the nine, 2002 cask # 1500, gives aromas of sweet figs and chocolate-covered raisins dusted with vanilla and spiced by subtle cigar smoke, candied peel and stem ginger. A fascinating range of expressions that will appeal to all tastes.”

The Great Grain Whisky Tasting

Too much time is spent harping on about the malting process that creates the principal ingredient of single malt whisky, or so claims a certain member of our staff. Eager to quiet him down we told him to host a tasting and argue why this is the case, tell us why single grain whisky is better than single malt.

For the uninitiated; grain whisky is made from cereals that haven’t been through the malting process. The result is a lighter, sweeter (and for blenders cheaper) style of whisky which forms the core of blended whiskies.

Join us for an evening sampling the very best grain can offer.

A light buffet of cheese and charcuterie and a 10% on-the-night store discount is, of course, included.

If interested tickets are £25 per person, please reply HERE so we can sign you up!

All the best,

Milroy’s of Soho

The Whisky Shop is pleased to offer you the first chance to purchase the brand new Glendronach Batch 10 releases. Demand is expected to be high for these limited single cask bottlings and all orders will be treated on a first come first served basis. Enjoy!

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 1990 24 year old
Click here to buy – £152

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 1991 22 year old
Click here to buy – £131

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 1992 22 year old
Click here to buy – £131

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 1993 21 year old.
Click here to buy £122

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 1994 19 year old.
Click here to buy – £106

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 1994 19 year old.
Click here to buy – £106

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 1995 18 year old
Click here to buy – £102

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 1996 18 year old.
Click here to buy £102

Glendronach Single Cask Batch 10 – 2002 12 year old.
Click here to buy – £66

www.ralfy.com confirms, Distillery is Highland, Warehouses are Lowland with Whisky Review 472 – Glengoyne 18yo @ 43%

INTRODUCING HAN SHAN: THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE FROM HUDSON WHISKEY’S “MAKING THE CUT” CHALLENGE AND  OUR NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR

NEW YORK – July 7, 2014 – All hail the new Hudson brand ambassador! Actually, all hug the new Hudson brand ambassador- here at Hudson Whiskey, we’re all about love over laud. The amount of love for each hand-dipped bottle of whiskey, love for each local New York-sourced ingredient we use, and love for each member of our distillery is immeasurable, which brings us to Han Shan. We fell in love with his knowledge of the whiskey landscape, his enthusiasm for Hudson, but above of all, we fell in love with him! Which is why we’re thrilled to announce Mr. Han Shan as the new face of Hudson Whiskey. 

To be honest, we fell in love with all of our delightful and charismatic candidates- “Making the Cut” was not a search for the pre-eminent mixologist or an encyclopedic spirits mind, but for the next member of the Hudson family. We took three finalists up to the Hudson distillery at Tuthilltown, New York and taught our  prospective ambassadors what it is that makes whiskey “Hudson Whiskey”, why we source everything locally, and generally what it means to be part of the Hudson clan. In the end, while we’re excited to have three new friends, we found that Han was the full human embodiment of Hudson’s ideals and identity. Congratulations! 

As the new face of Hudson, Han will circle the country, speaking with bartenders, restaurant owners, whiskey enthusiasts and journalists, hosting tastings, connecting with fans via social media and representing our brand in the national press. 

“From sampling bourbon and rye straight from barrels in the rickhouse to exploring the dramatic mountain trails overlooking the distillery to late-night storytelling with the other candidates at the beautiful Hudson Valley farmhouse, Making the Cut was truly a beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Han of his time at the distillery. “I cannot fully express the level of my excitement to spread love for this wonderful whiskey, and for being graciously welcomed into the family.” Adds Gable Erenzo, co-founder, distiller, and former brand ambassador for Hudson: “When we started this project, I never dreamed that we would find someone as passionate and dynamic as Han. To be honest, I can’t help but see a bit of myself in him and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect friend to take over for me as ambassador. 

For a full look at Han’s journey to spirits stardom, head to HudsonWhiskey.com/MakingTheCut; who knows, maybe you’ll discover a thing or two that might help you become the next member of our little family here at Tuthilltown. You can also keep an eye on our website to find out when Han might be coming to your town so you can say hello yourself- we’re sure he’d love to meet you! 

About Hudson

Hudson Whiskey has become an iconic American Whiskey since the first of its signature 375 ml bottles were shipped in 2005.  In this short time, the micro distillery in upstate New York has quickly received acclaim not only for the quality of its marques, but also for its ground-breaking status: As well as being the first legal pot-stilled whiskey distilled in New York state since prohibition and sourcing 90% of its grains from within 10 miles of the distillery, Hudson’s signature expression – Baby Bourbon – is also the first ever New York state-produced bourbon. Hudson Whiskeys have an ABV of 46% and include a range of diverse and innovative marques including Hudson Baby Bourbon (RRP of $44.99), Hudson Four Grain Bourbon (RRP of $44.99), Hudson Manhattan Rye (RRP of $44.99), Hudson Single Malt (RRP of $44.99) and Hudson New York Corn Whiskey (RRP of $38.99) For more information, visit http://www.hudsonwhiskey.com/

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich^®, The Balvenie^® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch Grant’s^® along with iconic premium spirits brands Hendrick’s^® Gin, Sailor Jerry^® Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey and Milagro^® Tequila. 

William Grant & Sons has been honored as “Distiller of the Year” by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge ten times over the past 15 years. 

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Milagro Tequila, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Lillet, Art In The Age, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit http://www.grantusa.com/.

JULY EVENTS

Old and Rare Whisky Tasting, The Sign of the Don Restaurant, London – Fri 18 July
Haggis & Whisky Tasting, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Fri 18 July
Steak & Chips Tasting, The Vaults, Leith – Sat 19 July
New Members Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Tue 22 July
Dundee Members Tasting, Malmaison, Dundee – Thu 24 July
Harrogate Members Tasting, Hotel du Vin, Harrogate – Fri 25 July
Stirling Members Tasting, The Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling- Fri 25 July
Durham Members Tasting, Radisson Blu, Durham- Fri 25 July
Birmingham Members Tasting, Hotel du Vin, Birmingham- Fri 25 July

Browse all events

NEXT AT 28 QUEEN ST: HAGGIS & WHISKY TASTING

We all love the finer things in life but tonight is about satisfying a craving for simpler, comforting experiences. Enjoy five succulent Society drams, a hearty serving of haggis, neeps and tatties and all the whisky expertise of a Society Ambassador – a great start to the weekend! Fri 18 July, 7-9.30pm BUY

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Longrow
18 Year Old 2014
New 2014 release of the peated Springbank matured in sherry oak.

Limited release of 3,750 bottles.
Buy – $120.61

Glen Moray – Elgin’s hidden gem

With around 100 active whisky distilleries in Scotland, it’s inevitable that some get overlooked. One underrated distillery is Glen Moray. The distillery’s range is prominent in supermarkets, but has managed to stay under the radar of the average whisky drinker. I admit that I have been equally guilty, and have only tried Glen Moray on a handful of occasions at whisky shows. So, to rectify that, on a recent trip to Speyside, booking a distillery visit was my top priority.

Glen Moray has had just a handful of owners in its 117 years of operation – founded in 1897 on the site of the West Brewery, it was purchased by Macdonald & Muir (later to become Glenmorangie plc) in 1920, remaining in the same ownership until 2008 when French spirits group La Martiniquaise took the reins.

The distillery has shown its innovative nature over the past decade. Glenmorangie gained the plaudits for its range of whiskies finished in different types of wood, but not many know that Glen Moray was the spirit used for the trials a decade or so ago. Glen Moray’s Chardonnay-cask-aged expression is still available (although originally released as a No Age Statement, it’s now their 10 Year Old offering). Some of these casks are still kept in the warehouses, having been joined by casks filled after the distillery was taken over by La Martiniquaise in 2008, and include a seven-year-old rum cask and a four-year-old fully matured port cask.

Experimental wood ageing at Glen Moray – some left over from its Glenmorangie days

The cask experimentation is continuing – last year, the distillery filled 95% of production into bourbon casks, but with the increase in costs – Iain Allan (who showed me round) says bourbon barrels are rapidly approaching half the cost of a sherry butt (gone are the days when they were a tenth of the price). Experiments have recently begun with brandy casks being filled with spirit.

More innovation can be seen in the production area; four new washbacks were installed in 2012, with one of the older ones decommissioned and converted into a heated water well. The wash passes through this after fermentation, thus increasing its temperature and reducing the amount of energy needed to heat the stills – lowering costs and improving efficiency.

The distillery has more freedom than it did under Glenmorangie ownership and the team are experimenting with how to get the best out of the entire production process, not just with cask ageing. The distillery’s output is primarily unpeated, with peated spirit produced just one month a year – partly to be used for an upcoming peated release, currently available as a 2 year old in the distillery shop, and also to be used in the company’s Label 5 range of blended whiskies.

With the demand for Scotch growing, Glen Moray is increasing production. Having produced 2.2 million litres of spirit in 2012 and 3m in 2013, they are aiming for 9m in 2015. To achieve this, the building which used to house the on-site maltings (dormant since the late 1970s) has been demolished. In its place, a new production building (which will house an 11-ton mash tun, 12 new stills and around 10 washbacks) is being constructed. This is effectively building a new distillery on site, as it will be larger than the current Glen Moray, which only has six stills and nine washbacks.

Glen Moray’s six stills

We were delighted that Glen Moray were among the first exhibitors to be announced as returning to October’s TWE Whisky Show. If you are attending, I’d recommend visiting the stand and seeing Iain and Emma (who also run the distillery’s visitor centre), especially if you’ve never tried Glen Moray before.

I couldn’t leave without trying a few whiskies from the range:

Glen Moray Classic. 40%.

Aged for an average of seven years entirely in ex-bourbon casks, of which a high percentage are first fill, this is the distillery’s entry-level offering.

Nose: Rather closed, with just the malted sweetness coming through.
Palate: Light, grassy and sweet with notes of green apple and lemon.
Finish: Medium-length and slightly drying, with the lemon notes remaining through to the end.
Comment: It’s not a whisky to set the world alight, but that’s not what it’s meant to do. An easy-to-drink, entry-level single malt that’s a bargain at just a little over £20.

Glen Moray 10 Year Old, Chardonnay Cask. 40%.

Unusually for a Scotch single malt, this has been aged full-term in white-wine casks. This is a whisky that has always intrigued me, so let’s see if it was worth the wait.

Nose: Sweet, with notes of orange and a hint of butteriness in the background.
Palate: Sweet marmalade and butter (in keeping with the nose). The fruit intensity, sweetness and alcohol are very well integrated.
Finish: Medium to long, rich and fruity, with plenty of that marmalade that is a recurrent theme throughout.
Comment: Whiskies aged full-term in wine casks are pretty rare and those aged in white-wine casks even more so. The butteriness comes from these casks, and while it is an unusual trait in whisky, integrates well with the rest of the flavours. At just a smidgen over £25, it’s another excellent-value whisky.

Glen Moray 2 Year Old Peated. 60.6%.
Not yet legally whisky, this will be added to the core range in the next year or so (when it reaches the legal minimum of three years old). We managed to find some stock of this in the past and it flew off the shelves, so I was eager to give it a go.

Nose: A whack of peat – iodine more than TCP.
Palate: Warming, with the youthful peat balanced by sweetness and orange notes.
Finish: The fruitiness slowly dissipating to leave warming iodine notes.
Comment: Rather rough around the edges, but it is very young, so this can be overlooked. A real insight into what the distillery is capable of producing in terms of peated whisky, and shows excellent potential.

Glen Moray is a distillery I’ll be keeping an even closer eye on in the future, with some interesting releases planned – watch this space!

Whisky Business at Saffire

It is no secret that Tasmanian whisky is taking the world by storm, and we believe it is time that we celebrated this fact. We are offering you the opportunity to be a part of a very special weekend at Saffire Freycinet.

Together with Tasmania’s premier whisky distillers, we invite you to join us on Friday 29 August and Saturday 30 August for two days of winter warmth and cheer. 

Guests will have time to enjoy all of the elements that you would normally associate with Saffire, but also have exclusive access to the very best whisky makers in Australia. This will involve one-on-one interaction with the owners of the distilleries, whisky tastings and masterclasses, whisky, wine and food matching dinners and more. Whether you are a whisky expert or novice, the inaugural ‘Whisky Business’ weekend will be unforgettable.

Only repeat visitors to Saffire, and friends of the Tasmanian distilleries will receive this exclusive invitation.

There is no additional charge above our regular rates for this weekend. It is a way of thanking those who have been faithful to us, as well as raising the profile of a great Tasmanian industry. Rates begin at $1800 per suite per night. This includes all meals, beverages, activities, minibar and $100 spa credit.

Justin, Saffire General Manager would like to offer himself as the contact for this event. He would be delighted to answer any questions you may have personally or indeed oversee all aspects of your reservation.

Justin can be contacted on 03 6256 7861 or via email at Justin.King@saffire-freycinet.com.au. Alternatively you are welcome to call any of our Guest Service Managers on 03 6256 7888.

You will hear more about this event in the coming weeks, but we urge you to book early to ensure your place.

We look forward to raising a glass with you.

Yours sincerely

Hugh Whitehouse
Saffire Executive Chef
www.saffire-freycinet.com.au

and

Bert Cason
Sullivans Cove Marketing Manager
www.sullivanscovewhisky.com