This week Joe Ellis reviews Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Heavily Peated Bruichladdich! 

http://youtu.be/i8ny7wL8_Oc 

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NZ Joins the Greats of World Whisky

Oamaru, New Zealand– Oct 7, 2014 – New Zealand has become the first nation outside Japan and Europe to mature and release a 25 year old Single Malt whisky. Following extensive barrel selection, the company has released a limited quantity of just 484 bottles onto the market.

“We are so grateful for the international support of the world’s whisky community over the last four years, which has given us the confidence to launch our 25 year old,” says company CEO Greg Ramsay. “We are already humbled by the pre-orders and glowing feedback of those who have taken their first sips.”

The 25 year old, made from 100 per cent malted New Zealand barley distilled in the lost Dunedin distillery, has been aging in American Oak, ex-bourbon barrels from Four Roses Distillery  for a quarter of a century. The rich flavours have softened and sweetened into a complex array of tropical fruits, butterscotch, toasted orange peel and a hit of sea spray.

The 25 year old is a salute to the craftsmanship of those early distillers, including Cyril Yates who played a hand in this newly released drop. “It’s got to be made properly all the way through from the farmer growing barley to the cooper sealing up the staves, and then it does the magical maturation in the barrel before coming out as liquid gold,” explains Yates who dedicated 40 years of his life to the New Zealand whisky industry.

The New Zealand Whisky Company is a success story that signals a revival of the whisky industry in New Zealand. “The whisky was once distilled by Seagram’s in Dunedin before the distillery was sold in 1997 as part of a global rationalization” explains Kay Hansen, who in her four years working in the Oamaru Cellar Door and Bondstore, has been identified as having a rare talent for combining barrels for the batch production.

“Kay’s palate is no-nonsense; she doesn’t get all tied up in disappearing cinnamon, or a bounce of Marzipan. She combines barrels that complement each other with layers of sweetness, spices, a creamy mouth-feel and a moreish aftertaste,” comments Greg Ramsay. “I think Kay might be the first lady in the history of the world of whisky, entrusted in delivering a 25 year old Single Malt.”

Kay continues, “my barrel selection all goes back to what I enjoy seeing in visitors at our Cellar Door, often first-timers or ‘whisky virgins’ as I call them, and the look of total satisfaction as they discover the variety of flavours that only Single Malt provides. So I want to put together whiskies that are broad and open up with water, but without any particular flavour that is too dominant or in your face.”

Following an international design competition, the packaging for the 25 year old emerged. Greg Walko and Petra Kosik, hailing from a small Hungarian design studio took honours, trumping a strong international field. With its contemporary styling, the packaging brings a quarter-of-a-century-old drop into the modern day.

In London last year, the New Zealand Whisky Collection’s DoubleWood won the category for Best Australasian Blend, while the South Island Single Malt was awarded the DoubleGold at the San Francisco Spirits Competition.

As well as regaining the foothold once held across New Zealand by Wilsons, the whisky is now exported from Oamaru and available across Canada, the UK, Australia and Europe. The 25 year old is now available for pre-order at www.thenzwhisky.com.

More information about the New Zealand Whisky Company is available at www.thenzwhisky.com

Jolly Jaunt
Annandale Distillery Visit
12 October, 2014

Jolly Toper on the Road

Prior to its official opening, the distillery invited Jolly Toper to organize a sneak peak tour of the facility, for a group of twenty-five whiskyphiles from the Edinburgh area. A rare glimpse into a distillery that is yet to begin production was quite a treat, particularly considering this is a Lowland distillery. When it begins production, which may peak at 250,000 liters per year capacity, Annandale will serve as Scotland’s most southerly active distillery.

Touring and Tasting

The day-long trip included an assembly in central Edinburgh and a pleasant two-hour coach ride through the Scottish Borders to Dumfries and Galloway. Upon arrival the visitors assembled at the Village Inn in Kirtlebridge, a few miles from the distillery. Because of the space available and construction works still in progress, the visitor team was divided in two manageable groups. Jolly Toper’s program included an educational tasting on closed distilleries—a lineup of five whiskies—but in a manner slightly different from his usual tasting program. It proved to be an interesting approach. After the first group departed for the distillery, the others engaged in a three-whiskies tasting session. Upon the return their roles changed. Later, the groups joined into another session with two more whiskies.

This approach has created an inspiring whisky experience, which became a conversation topic in the aftermath. The members of each group compared notes on the first three separately-tasted whiskies and the distillery tour with their counterparts.

Equal Attention to Past and Future

At the distillery, Michael Hanratty, Annandale’s Whisky Experience Manager, took special care in giving equal attention to everyone, answering questions about its past, present, and projections for the future. Here, one feels that “the present is the fruit of the past and contains the seeds of the future,” as a scholar of culture, E. Rostlund, once noted. Emphasis on history is evident in an attempt to integrate the distillery into the landscape and cultural context. Remnants of the 19th century masonry, discovered during the recent construction, have been preserved to illustrate this very point. Future visitors will be in position to learn about the four iterations of Annandale Distillery, its place in the industry and the local and overall Scottish history.

Within the Walls

Inside, creating an aesthetically pleasing environment has received much attention. This is particularly evident—to the visitors’ great satisfaction—in the open floor still room. A comment that this was one of “the most beautiful” in Scotland was not inappropriate. The photographs speak even louder than words. Stills, slightly elevated from the washbacks made of Douglas fir, make for an enjoyable view the moment a person steps in the room. Condensers are outside. Although it does not appear that way, the stills are actually at the ground level, because the building is dug into the ground.  The future tasting room leaves an impression of a cozy place where the visitors will have fun. Distillery’s theme of rock and crafted wood are represented in the tasting room, too. During our visit the work to finish the details was still ongoing.

Wrapping Up

Time flies by fast when people have fun. After the tour and the final part of the tasting, an occasional pint and a war story or two, the group gathered for the departure. In a cheerful mood Jolly and the Topers carried conversations about the latest adventure to Edinburgh. Already in the making are future Jolly Jaunts to other Scotch whisky destinations.

Whiskies tasted:

North of Scotland 1972 42yo single grain bottled by Pearls of Scotland
Littlemill 22yo bottled by Cadenheads
Cambus 22yo single grain from a re-filled sherry butt bottled by Signatory
Caperdonich 1999 bottled by Gordon & MacPhail
And a peaty dram to finish: Machir Bay 2014 release from Kilchoman

About: Jolly Toper Whisky Tastings (jollytoper.com) is Edinburgh’s premier whisky tasting event. Regularly scheduled and the special events are designed for novices and experts alike and take place in different venues, including tastings on a canal barge, whisky walks, and most recently a tasting on the road while visiting a distillery. The latter, under that name Jolly Jaunt, has been created to accommodate customers’ growing requests for a niche-type touring of distilleries. Contact at info@jollytoper.com or +44 (0)757 434 694. Facebook: http://goo.gl/CzSIWD

Embed YouTube video http://youtu.be/vB3Nc-ZgQtc

HIDDEN SPIRITS NEW RELEASE “BLAIR ATHOL BLA.214”

From now is available the New Hidden Spirits Independent Label Release;

Blair Athol “BLA.214” is an 11 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky matured in ex bourbon hogshead.

BLA.214 is an elegant Single Cask Whisky full of character.

BLAIR ATHOL 11yo “BLA.214” (2002 – 2014)

Independent Bottling of

HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

 distilled at

 BLAIR ATHOL distillery

Independent Label: Hidden Spirits;

Bottling: Independent (Hidden Spirits);

 Single Malt Whisky Region: Highland;

Distillery: Blair Athol;

Aged: 11 yo (2002- 2014);

Matured: Ex-bourbon hogshead;

Cask number: ref. 10614;

48%abv.

Available from October 2014 HERE

Something more HERE

Following the modest, recent release of Mortlach Rare Old, the new super-dooper, super premium Mortlach 25 year old has finally arrived! Mortlach is described as ‘The Beast of Dufftown’ for its rich and powerful flavours, which might partly have something to do with the unique and complicated partial triple distilling process. Previously used primarily for adding depth to some great whisky blends, Mortlach is now enjoying some seriously heavy investment, which will double the capacity of the distillery and firmly reposition the brand straight to the top of the global luxury and travel market. We have been fortunate enough to sample a wee dram and it doesn’t disappoint. After tasting it (click through for our tasting notes) one member of staff remarked; ‘If a had the money in my hand right now, I wouldn’t hesitate in handing it over for this bottle of Mortlach.’

Welcome to Haig Club

Forget everything you thought you knew about Scotch. Haig Club is a new Single Grain Whisky developed in partnership between Diageo and global sporting icon David Beckham and British entrepreneur Simon Fuller. Seen by many to be Scotland’s hidden gem, single grain whisky is being predicted by experts as the next trend in whisky.

Haig Club has an ultra-smooth taste, with delicious notes of butterscotch and toffee. This makes it enjoyable served neat, over ice or in a long refreshing cocktail.

Click here to buy

ISLE OF ARRAN’S DRAMATIC LANDSCAPE INSPIRES NEW LOOK FOR CORE RANGE

Whisky lovers are invited to raise a glass to the natural beauty of the Isle of Arran with a dram of whisky from the distillery’s redesigned core range…

Isle of Arran Distillers has given its core range of single malts a makeover after being inspired by the dramatic landscapes of the place where the whisky is made.

The distillery has redesigned the packaging of its four key expressions of the Arran Malt to reflect the quality and provenance which lie at the heart of the spirits.

The colours on each of the new bottles have been specifically chosen to mirror the hues of the landscapes on the Isle of Arran where the whisky is made.

Isle of Arran Distillery Managing Director Euan Mitchell said: “Arran is known as ‘Scotland in miniature’ and offers in a single location the stunning and varied landscapes for which Scotland is noted – we could have no better inspiration.

“We feel very lucky to call such a beautiful place home. It offers us so many perfect conditions for making top quality whisky and as so many of our expressions are inspired by the legends and landscapes of Arran, it makes sense that the packaging does too.”

The Arran Ten Year Old Malt, the distillery’s classic expression and flagship bottling, has been redesigned in shades of green which reflect the mossy green of Arran’s hills.

The Arran 12 Year Old, the only cask strength expression in the core range, now comes in shades of grey inspired by the rugged rocks and stones that adorn the island while the 14 Year Old has shades of purple in an echo of the heather scattered across Arran’s hills.

The new look of the Lochranza Reserve, a non-aged Single Malt bottled at 43%, uses shades of blue inspired by the often dramatic skyline of Arran.

Euan added: “We’ve gone for a modern feel but kept some of the classic design cues such as the copper edging as these are our classic single malts which our loyal followers will recognise.

“The new packaging is being rolled out gradually and has already been very well received – as we find is the case when people taste the Arran spirit.”

Each of the whiskies in the Arran range are non-chill filtered and made without the addition of any artificial colours. The distillery only ever uses ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks to achieve the characteristic well-rounded flavour.

Retailing at £32.99 to £44.99, the Arran core range is available from specialist whisky shops and from http://www.arranwhisky.com/. The Lochranza Reserve should soon be available in supermarkets.

Notes

For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com

Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year-old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.

Arran Machrie Moor

“Machrie Moor is named after a peat bog located on the west coast of the Isle of Arran where bronze age stone circles and standing stones are strewn across the terrain…”

Arran Machrie Moor / Fifth Edition

The fifth edition of Arran Machrie Moor has arrived and is the first release of this series at a peating level of 20PPM – (The fourth edition was 14PPM). Sure to be another solid release from Arran distillery, bottled at 46% vol.

£39.98  (£33.32 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Arran Machrie Moor 5th Edition

Arran Machrie Moor Cask Strength
First Edition

The first release of Arran Machrie Moor, cask strength edition…Only 480 bottles of this limited edition bottling released to the UK. A peating level of 20PPM, bottled at 58.4% vol.

£47.98  (£39.98 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Arran Machrie Moor Cask Strength 1st Edition

Arran Machrie Moor / Fourth Edition

The fourth edition of Machrie Moor from Arran distillery, named after a peat bog located on the west coast of the Isle of Arran where bronze age stone circles and standing stones are strewn across the terrain… Bottled at 46%, this fourth release has been released at a peating level of 14PPM.

£41.95  (£34.96 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Arran Machrie Moor 4th Edition

Arran Single Cask #815 / 1998

The 2014 Spring release from Arran distillery is single sherry cask #815. A limited edition release, distilled in 1998 and aged for 15 years. Bottled in 2014 at 55.3% vol, 269 bottles filled.

£66.95  (£55.79 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Arran Single Cask 815

Arran 17 Year Old

A limited edition release from Arran distillery produced from un-peated malted barley and aged for 17 years in casks that previously held Spanish sherry.

This bottling is the second in a series marking the countdown to the launch of The Arran Malt 18 year old in Spring 2015.

£66.95 (£55.79 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Arran 17 Year Old

Here’s a quick update of products that showed up this week. Some are new arrivals and some are back in stock. Our Private Barrels from Wild Turkey, Ridgemont Reserve and Buffalo Trace have finally arrived. We can’t stress enough how good our Russell’s Reserve Barrel #556 is.

Cheers,
-The Party Source Spirits Department

RUSSELL’S RESERVE Single Barrel Bourbon TPS Private Barrel – $48.99

WILD TURKEY Kentucky Spirit Bourbon TPS Private Barrel – $43.79

1792 RIDGEMONT RESERVE Barrel Select Bourbon TPS Private Barrel – $23.49

BUFFALO TRACE Bourbon TPS Private Barrel – $22.49

JACK DANIEL’S Winter Jack Tennessee Cider – $17.99

AMRUT Single Malt Whisky – $44.99

AMRUT Single Malt Whisky Fusion – $51.99

AMRUT Single Malt Whisky Intermediate Sherry – $102.99

AMRUT Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength – $58.99

AMRUT Single Malt Whisky Peated – $51.99

GARRISON BROTHERS Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey Fall 2013 – $79.99

GARRISON BROTHERS Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey Fall 2014 – $79.99

GARRISON BROTHERS Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey Spring 2014 – $79.99

BLACKADDER Raw Cask Single Malt Scotch Bladnoch 1991 22 Year – $168.99

BLACKADDER Raw Cask Single Malt Scotch Bunnahabhain 1990 24 Year – $168.99

BLACKADDER Raw Cask Single Malt Scotch Clynelish 1995 19 Year – $154.99

BLACKADDER Raw Cask Single Malt Scotch Glen Ord 1996 18 Year – $119.99

A.D. RATTRAY Cask Islay Single Malt Scotch – $68.99

WOODSTONE CREEK Single Malt Whiskey Sherry Cask 13 Year – $139.99 (750ml), $73.99 (375ml)

CANADIAN HUNTER Rye Canadian Whisky – $8.99

The International Wine and Spirit Competition Announces Shortlist for

‘Outstanding Achievement Award in the Scotch Whisky Industry’

Today (14^th October) sees the announcement of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s (IWSC) shortlist for ‘Outstanding Achievement Award in the Scotch Whisky Industry’.

The award sponsored by Chivas Brothers Ltd, was created to honour individuals who have made important international contributions to the Scotch whisky industry. The shortlist of candidates have been chosen, because they demonstrate evidence of influencing and protecting the development of the industry and effectively promoting its image.

Last year the award was won by Steve Sturgeon, who is marketing director at Distell Group. Past winners have included Charles Maclean, Glen Barclay and Dr Bill Lumsden.

This year’s shortlist of nominees:

Rachel Barrie

Rachel is a Master Blender at Morrison Bowmore Distillers and one of only a few female Master Blenders in the world, creating some of the world’s finest single malt Scotch whiskies. She started her career in whisky straight after studying chemistry at Edinburgh University. During her 23 year in the industry she has sampled in excess of 130,000 casks from more than 80 malt distilleries.

Ken Robertson

Ken was the Corporate Relations Director at Diageo Whisky, working there for over 25 years creating conditions for the long-term growth and success of the Scotch whisky category. He represented Diageo on industry bodies that include Council of the Scotch Whisky Association, the Board of the Scotch Whisky Experience and the management committee of The Keepers of the Quaich. He is now retired from Diageo and directing Ken Robertson Associates.

Douglas Cruickshank

Before announcing his retirement in October 2013 Douglas was the Production Director at Chivas Brothers with over 40 years’ experience in the Scotch industry. He played a key role in the growth of Chivas Brands including Chivas Regal. He started his career as a labourer with Distilleries Company Limited at the age of 15.

Dr Charles Soong

Charles is the MD of Edrington China and has had over 20 years’ experience in the industry, starting as the on-trade marketing manager for Remy Martin. In 2005, he was nominated by TEG to become the Keeper of the Quaich as a lifetime member of that organisation.

Dr Nicholas Morgan

Nicholas is Head of Whisky Outreach at Diageo, where he has become renowned for his expertise on the history of the Scotch whisky distilling industry. He has over twenty years’ experience and has been responsible for a number of key innovations for malt whisky including the development of the Talisker range.

Gavin Hewitt CMG, OBE

Gavin was Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association for over 10 years, he retired in December 2013. The body promotes, protects and represents the interests of the industry in Scotland and around the world. In November 2011 he was elected as president of the European Spirits Organisation. 

Dr Tim Dolan

Tim joined the industry in 1966 after his degree and PhD in chemistry from Edinburgh University. Working as both Chairman and Secretary for The Institute of Brewing & Distilling, he has provided an exceptional contribution to brewing, malting and distilling science over the last 40 years. 

The winner will be announced at the IWSC awards banquet, to be held at London’s Guildhall on 12^th November 2014.

Notes:

For more information please contact Holly Axelrad at Green Row, Holly@greenrow.co.uk

• The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. All entries are blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary.
• IWSC has appointed Laura Catena as the 2014 president.
• The 2014 Annual Awards Banquet will be held on Wednesday 12^th November, at The Guild Hall, City of London.

• The IWSC has partnered with Wines Direct to promote its top 2014 award winning wines. The price comparison website will allow consumers to search for medal winners by country, variety, colour, region, or retailer. The website will also show judges’ tasting notes for wines which has won trophy, gold, gold outstanding and silver outstanding.
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