Only 36 Hours Left to Get in on the MS Calgary Whisky Festival Early Bird Draw

Purchase your tickets to the MS Calgary Whisky Festival by midnight Sunday December 14^th, and you will be entered to win our fabulous draw prize. A sold out bottle of Silver Seal Glendronach 22 Year ($313), 2 Glencairn Glasses ($32), Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015 ($30), Whisky Bible 2015 ($22) and a copy of Whisky Advocate Magazine ($7.00). In all this prize is worth over $400!

2015 is the 4^th running of the MS Calgary Whisky Festival, in support of the MS Society of Calgary & Area. Funds raised at the event will support research into the disease as well as programs for those living with it. Last year’s event attracted a sellout crowd of 400 participants. We’ve raised our sights for 2015 and increased capacity to make room for 500 participants. Participants this year will experience more producers, more whiskies and better food. To date half of the 500 tickets have already sold, as have all of the VIP tickets. 2 Master Classes which will run during the show will be announced before Christmas!

More information about the MS Calgary Whisky Festival can be found on the Festival website, where you can also purchase tickets. http://www.calgarywhiskyfestival.com/ Please help us sell out this wonderful event again, and make a contribution to those living with Multiple Sclerosis in our community!

• Craigellachie 23 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey 750ml ($274.99) Oh magnificence, tis and old school malt through and through. Very limited supplies. Here’s what Serge at Whiskyfun thought, “Colour: gold. Nose: right, we’re way above both the 13 and the 17, for sure. This is much more complex, with more herbs and tart fruits, kiwis, grapefruits, rhubarb, then tobacco and clay, marzipan, then more earth, citrons, old style mouthwash (we had one called Eau de Botot a long time ago), then a steely touch, metal polish… I have to say this baby noses older than 23, and once again I cannot not think of some great old Rosebank, such as the official 20yo white label. A great surprise. Mouth: good, this is really very good. Love the nutty/almondy character, the waxy mouth feel, all the lemons and grapefruits, the light peppery side, the evanescent medicinal profile (good antiseptic – should that exist), the touches of absinth and limoncello (again), the solid peppery backbone… Really high class! Finish: long, chisel led, like a great old dry chenin from a good house. Comments: an impressively zesty and yet fat profile, right between the northern style (Clynelish) and the southern one (Rosebank.) I love this style, especially since no oaky trick’s been played, apparently. Try to try this great new baby!” 91 points. That’s a huge score for Serge. Anything that’s anything like old Clynelish is a must buy in my book.

• 1972 Macallan 42 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Speymalt Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 8 available ($1,099.99) Whisky Advocate: “On more familiar ground with this G&M bottling of one of Speyside’s most iconic single malts, this is Macallan in full-on sherried form. Highly aromatic with powdered clove, hints of incense and fig, behind which is cacao, Bolivar cigar, and molasses. The palate has immediate smoke and surprisingly gentle tannins — the inherent oiliness of the spirit keeping any grip at bay. Very long, leathery, prune-like (think armagnac), and dense. A classic after-dinner mouth-filler. (Vol. 20, #4)” K&L Notes: Aged entirely in first-fill sherry barrels, this is quite possibly the best Macallan I’ve ever tasted. The concentration of sherry is absolutely unreal. It’s almost impossible to tell where the sherry ends and the whisky begins – it all gets lost in a seamless flavor of rich toffee, syrup, and caramel. I have to believe that anyone who is willing to pay the price will get exactly what they expect from this bottle. It tastes expensive, unlike so many pricier malts that get you on rarity or collectibility only. Bottled in 2013.

• Tao’s Lightning 17 Year Old K&L Exclusive Cask #15 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml ($109.99) This cask from our first purchase at this little distillery in New Mexico is another 17 Year Old Indiana Straight Rye. Bottled at a barrel proof of 45%, it has a completely different profile than #16. Deep dark aromas of cedar and dill remind us instantly that’s an LDI product. This one has a lot more sweet oak on the palate, but makes up for it with a peppery dark graininess. Texturally more profound and powerful, the contrast between the two continues through the finish. Tremendously smooth and complex, it’s definitely old whisky. While all the edges have softened, the herbal dill and subtle pepper keep you guessing. Hopefully there are more of these great old caskscasks out there somewhere, but for now this is the oldest rye in the store. I still don’t get how we snagged them for such a great price -only a few bucks more than their standard 15 year old expression, which is pretty great by the way. The wacky label and unusal provenance only make it better.

• Tao’s Lightning 17 Year Old K&L Exclusive Cask #16 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml ($109.99) I have to say, we got lucky with these two casks. How often does a tiny craft distillery have old rye whiskey? Never! Seriously. It’s never happened. Maybe we’ve got some 7 year floating around. Back in the day, High West had some of that old barton stuff at 16 and 21 years. There was a little older rye coming out a little while back (Willett, BMH, Pepper), but right now it’s totally dry. When these guys came in with a some barrels just hanging around my jaw nearly dropped. Apparently, this stuff was picked up a few years back before the proverbial fan started spinning, so we’ve also avoided the any unwarrented price inflation. These two casks represent two opposite styles we get out of the great distillery in Lawrenceburg. After a few years maturing in Santa Fe’s semi-arid continental climate, they’ve suffiently mellowed these and neither whiskey is a hig proof power bomb. Instead, the subtle elegance of age has tempered the intensity we’re used to in the younger expressions. Cask #16 shows off a regal bouquet of candied orange peel, soft vanilla, and distant spice. Almost ethereal on the palate, the lightness is striking. It’s a whisper of a whisky at first, but with air becomes quite complex with tons to offer. It’s significantly lighter in color than the sister, but impressive in that it’s so approachable and alive. I’d feel comfortable pouring a glass of this for almost anyone from a geek to a grandma.

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

Just Whisky December Auction Ends Sunday!

Just Whisky’s December auction is in full swing and will come to a close on Sunday Evening. With over 700 lots, they’re celebrating their 1 year birthday and they have some cracking lots. Pop along to have a look. Registration is easy and Christmas Delivery is Available on your orders! 

www.just-whisky.co.uk

We won an award! We’re very grateful for the nomination and all the subsequent votes received. Thank you. Now back to business, the Christmas clock is ticking down! Have you sorted out both your gifts and your own supplies yet? Plenty of deals still available and we are here to help if you need any advice or recommendations.

CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR 2014 FAVOURITES.

www.ralfy.com has a magic-moment and old-school malt-heaven with Whisky Review 507 – Mortlach 26yo Malt (Adelphi)

Booker’s® Bourbon Roundtable Selects Their Final Batch Of 2014

Whiskey Experts Take Part in Beam Family Tradition with Master Distiller Fred Noe

Clermont, KY (November 25, 2014) – Booker’s® Bourbon announces the release of Batch No. 2014-6, hand-selected by Fred Noe, Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller, and the “Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable” of whiskey writers and experts. Batch No. 2014-6 was selected by secret ballot vote at the Noe family home in Bardstown, Kentucky where the brand’s namesake, Booker Noe, tasted each new batch of Booker’s Bourbon with friends and family.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the uncut, unfiltered bourbon, the Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable paid homage to Booker’s tasting tradition of gathering personal friends around his kitchen table to choose the next batch. This selection marked the first time the Roundtable came together for a live, in-person tasting; they had previously selected all batches through virtual tastings.

“We brought the group to Kentucky to select their last batch of the year in the best way we knew how – by getting together at my dad’s house to taste his favorite bourbon,” said Fred Noe. “Booker’s was founded on my dad’s love for great bourbon, so by bringing the Roundtable together at his house, we were able to keep his tasting traditions alive.”

The Roundtable panelists – an exclusive group consisting of top whiskey experts, enthusiasts and writers – who hand-selected Batch No. 2014-6 with Fred Noe and Booker’s grandson, Freddie Noe, included the following members:

• Chuck Cowdery, Blogger and Author of “Bourbon, Strange: Surprising Stories of American Whiskey”
• John McCarthy, Spirits Writer and Senior Managing Editor of Men’s Health Magazine
• Jack Robertiello, Spirits Writer and Judge
• Tony Sachs, Spirits Writer and Huffington Post Blogger
• Fred Minnick, Spirits Writer, Judge, and Author of “Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whiskey”

Currently available nationwide, Booker’s® Bourbon Batch No. 2014-6, the second to last batch of 2014 and the Roundtable’s last selection this year, was chosen based on the following characteristics:

• Proof: 127.7
• Age: 7 years, 2 months and 2 weeks
• Nose: Vanilla with some toasted nuts
• Finish: Long, smooth finish

About Booker’s® Bourbon

Booker’s® Bourbon was inspired by a 200-year-old family tradition and came to life when Booker Noe selected the first bottles of Booker’s as holiday gifts for his friends and family. With its instant popularity within Noe’s close circle, Booker’s Bourbon was soon after bottled and made available on shelves for everyone to enjoy. Booker’s Bourbon is one of the only bourbons bottled straight-from-the-barrel, uncut and unfiltered, and bottled at its natural proof, which varies from batch to batch. Crafted in small batches and aged for six to eight years in charred oak barrels, which are stored in the center of the rack house, Booker’s Bourbon is hand-selected barrel-by-barrel by Fred Noe to ensure every bottle contains a robust, full-bodied whiskey that has a taste, aroma and proof that matches Booker’s whiskey preference.

For more information on Booker’s Bourbon, visit: http://smallbatch.com/bookers.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the flagship Jim Beam bourbon and Yamazaki Japanese whisky, as well as world renowned premium brands including Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.  The company generates annual worldwide sales exceeding $4 billion excluding excise taxes.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial culture.  Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Sipping Suggestions: With ice or cut with water

WhiskyBrother brings in 400 bottles of rare premium selected whisky from a single cask 

WhiskyBrother, an iconic speciality whisky store in Hyde Park (Johannesburg, South Africa) is delighted to announce the arrival of a new whisky bottled from a single cask.  The cask in question was personally selected by well-known whisky enthusiast and founder of the store, Marc Pendlebury, chosen on behalf of the store, and was bottled exclusively for WhiskyBrother.

Earlier this year Pendlebury travelled to Scotland to fulfil his dream of selecting a whisky directly for the cask to be bottled for WhiskyBrother, a dream that far preceded his plan to open a whisky shop.  On a cold Monday in February just outside the quaint town of Pitlochry, an afternoon was spent tasting various single malts from across Scotland in the maturation warehouse of the independent bottler, Signatory.

The benefit of an independent bottler is the huge selection and variety of whisky that they can offer.  It is often a misconception that independent bottlers produce whisky.  Independent bottlers buy casks from distilleries across Scotland and in some cases around the world, and bottle it under their own label.  They are also not restricted to a core range, style or age.  Pendlebury explains that, “every release is different, and the whisky selected solely on its merits and interest factor.  The practise dates back centuries and independent bottlers are an integral part of the whisky world, although not widely known by South African whisky drinkers”

Out of the several whiskies that were tasted at the independent bottler, three samples were brought back to South Africa for final selection.  “The winning cask was chosen solely on the whisky we thought was best, we didn’t concern ourselves with which distillery it came from or how old it was,” explains Pendlebury.

The selected cask which was distilled on the 28^th of August 1998 and bottled on the 24^th of March 2014, has finally arrived.  “It is interesting, is a cask strength, limited, individually numbered, presented in a beautiful bottle, very well priced for what it is, tastes brilliant (in our humble yet experienced opinion) and best of all, we get to share it with our fellow South African whisky enthusiasts,” says Pendlebury.

“It is a rare experience to try a single cask 15 year old Glenlivet whisky, particularly one that was matured in a 500 litre butt, which previously contained Oloroso sherry.  The unique aspect is that the wood absorbs the flavours from the sherry, which are then subsequently imparted into the whisky contributing to its full-bodied profile,” explains Pendlebury.  The 500 litre cask yielded exactly 419 bottles, evidence of the angel’s share and leakage over the casks lifetime.

The bottle which has a cask strength of 54.8%, is particularly special because the vast majority of whisky in South Africa is bottled at an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 43%. It is felt that a cask strength whisky is in a more natural state and has a richer flavour, making this a preferred option amongst serious whisky enthusiasts. “Most whisky drinkers do not want such a high alcohol content as it can be challenging to drink.  The term ‘cask strength’ on the bottle means that the whisky has not been diluted, and has been bottled at the same strength it was when lying in the cask just before being bottled,” advises Pendlebury.

This 15 year old independent Glenlevit, Speyside single malt whisky is unchill-filtered and naturally coloured; it meets all the right criteria for a full-bodied, memorable experience.  “One can expect juicy plums and apricots, with chocolate and pipe tobacco.  Plenty of rich spice, sherry-soaked fruits, vanilla and coco, with a hint of oak, Pendlebury concludes.  The limited supply is now exclusively available at WhiskyBrother and retails at special launch price of R1,300 incl. VAT. 

About the WhiskyBrother store:

For years WhiskyBrother was just a blog started by Marc, until 2 years ago when he decide to take the plunge and extended his passion for all things whisky to open a boutique whisky store, WhiskyBrother. Situated in Hyde Park Corner shopping centre in Johannesburg, the store stocks whiskies from around the world, as well as related paraphernalia such as whisky glassware, books and magazines. Holding more than 300 different whiskies, with new stock coming and going on a monthly basis. Its aim is to be a focal point in the South African whisky community: a place to taste and explore all things whisky, no matter the knowledge or experience of the drinker.

WhiskyBrother, Hyde Park Corner, Shop number 16 D

Website:     www.whiskybrother.com

Blog:            www.blog.whiskybrother.com

Twitter:      @WhiskyBroShop

This year, as you bravely set forth on your quest to recreate the festive perfection of times past, why not fortify yourself with our very own Lost Blend – a combination of malt whiskies so unusual and near-perfect we have been unable to repeat the feat for 10 years. The Lost Blend is a worthy partner for the weeks ahead and a timely reminder for all those tasked with creating peace and goodwill this festive season that re-discovering that elusive, long-sought magic is possible – if only you’re willing to wait for it. For more information about The Lost Blend, click here.

Last Order dates for Christmas – Don’t miss out!

We hope you have a friendly local whisky retailer who can take care of all your Compass Box needs. However, if you don’t, please pop in to our UK online shop and fill your basket! Order deadlines for delivery before Christmas: USA: Sunday 14th December 9.00 am (EST) Europe: Sunday 14th December 2.00 pm (GMT) UK (Mainland): Thursday 19th December 11.59pm (GMT) For other international destinations, the deadline for guaranteed delivery may have already passed, however we will endeavour to get your Compass Box whisky to you as quickly as we can!

Whisky of the Year 2014-15

It’s strange how quickly something becomes a yearly tradition. It’s only the second time we’ve given our Whisky and Spirit of the Year awards, but it already feels like a festive fixture. The core idea was the same as last year: choose a shortlist of excellent spirits and whiskies, and then choose one as the best.

As with last year, we went for ongoing, regular releases. On the whisky front, they weren’t cask strength and they were all under £60 a bottle. Again, in common with last year, the choice of Spirit of the Year was almost unanimous, but the whisky caused a few more intra-office fights. So, we organised a tasting and dragged 70 whisky fans, as well as a few industry folk, down to our shop at Vinopolis to help us choose a winner.

Aperitif down, we moved on to the main course of the evening: tasting the eight drams in our Whisky of the Year shortlist. The whiskies were tried blind, with each table discussing their thoughts on each before coming to a final decision. Votes were cast, with each taster choosing their top two whiskies – after we counted up the first choices, everyone who voted for a whisky not in the top two had their second choice counted instead. After the first round of counting, we were down to two whiskies that were ahead of the pack: Glendronach Revival 15 Year Old and Bowmore 12 Year Old…

The second choice votes were reallocated and there was a clear winner: whisky number seven – Glendronach Revival 15 Year Old. It’s a rich, sherried dram that we’ve been big fans of since it hit the shelves in 2009. You can find out more over on our Whisky of the Year page, but in short: if you like sherried whiskies, then you really should try it.

The shortlist, plus an extra dram for everyone to try while the votes were counted

The runner-up: Bowmore 12 Year Old, a whisky that sometimes divides opinion, with its softer and more fragrant approach to Islay smoke, but in this case a clear second place. From there we had Glenfiddich 18 in third; Clynelish 14, Longmorn 16 and Aberlour 16 in joint fourth, Laphroaig 10 in seventh and Benromach 10 in eighth. The final two had their champions in the room, with Sam ‘Dr Whisky’ Simmons proudly tweeting that the Benromach was his favourite of the night, but in the end the room went for the Glendronach – another example of my usual rule when trying to guess whisky competition winners: always bet on sherry.

On that note, we also tried a ninth whisky on the night – a new TWE exclusive whisky that came about after Glenfarclas 15 Year Old picked up last year’s Whisky of the Year award: Glenfarclas 15 Year Old 103° Proof. Bottled at cask strength (58.6% abv/103° proof) it’s Glenfarclas 15 taken to another level: complex and intensely sherried, with some softer fruity notes to temper the onslaught. It went down well at the Whisky of the Year tasting, and is now available to purchase at The Whisky Exchange.

Cask No. 27.107                                      $145

To the Manor born

Campbeltown

Thick, old fashioned vanilla ice cream, with tinned peaches, then a complex of polished leather (an antique desk, a sea chest, a worn leather chair, a vintage car), but also sherry trifle and creamy yoghurt, amber beads and rich fruit cake. Rich and sweet to taste, then tannic-dry with bitter chocolate and salt crystals; sandalwood. Water sweetens the nose to treacle toffee and sticky toffee pudding, hazelnut and almond praline – rich and complex. The taste is rich, sweet and very fruity; elegant, with dark chocolate and treacle, and Macademia nuts in the aftertaste.

Drinking tip: Digestif after Sunday lunch

Colour: Teak oil, with scarlet lights

Cask: Refill gorda

Age: 16 years

Date distilled: May 1998

Alcohol: 56.0%

USA allocation: 180 bottles 

Cask No. 3.217                              $145

A Delicatessen Shopping Basket

Islay

This had all the makings of a great feast of prosciutto ham, sundried tomatoes, roasted fish skins, sushi and brown sauce. A leather jacket stuffed into a canvas bag and a pouch of pipe tobacco. A damp forest with recently burnt heather and a shale beach. Much discussion ensued on the topic of ham – honey glazed or German peppered? They were all in agreement that it had delicious foodie characteristics in a warm plastic box. Lavender lip balm and orange peel were detectable above the blast of tar, sea spray, incense sticks and wet hessian rope.

Drinking tip: Drink neat or only a splash of water

Colour: A foxes brush

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 16 years

Date distilled: September 1997

Alcohol: 55.6%

USA allocation: 180 bottles 

Cask No. 35.101                            $330

‘Oh How Joyfully’

Speyside, Lossie

A gentle and soft aroma to start, almost shy, but it heightened our expectations of what was to come. Making baked apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped pecans, currants, raisins and sultanas as well as anise-flavoured cookies, a smell of pine needles and wood sap from a fresh cut fir tree – happy childhood memories of the night before Christmas. It is a waxy, oily, honey mouth coating texture with flavours of sandalwood, resin and exotic spices. With water there is a hint of wood smoke followed by candied orange and lemon peel, dried fruits and cardamom. Now on the taste a pleasant light woodiness combined with fragrant spices and fresh mint – this makes a great Advent dram.

Drinking tip: Whilst wrapping Christmas presents or decorating the tree

Colour: Resonant sunset over the sea

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 39 years

Date distilled: February 1974

Alcohol: 46.2%

USA allocation: 78 bottles

Cask No. 39.95                              $100

Caressing, warm and friendly

Speyside, Lossie

The nose, fresh and attractively youthful, tumbled aromatic antics of vanilla, gorse flowers, sandalwood, scented candles and melon, plus plentiful sweet suggestions  (stroop waffles, toffee ice-cream, lemon puffs, Edinburgh Rock, white chocolate). The palate also provided intense sweetness in the form of butterscotch, brown sugar, toasted marshmallows and custard creams; but we also found marmalade and black tea bitterness, white pepper, orange blossoms and ‘licking a new stave’. Still refreshing, the reduced nose conveyed pot-pourri, icing sugar, nougat and pancakes with lemon and honey. The palate now seduced us with its caressing sweetness and friendly warmth. From the east Elgin emporium.

Drinking tip: On a camping holiday, even when the sun don’t shine – this will provide warmth and smiling contentment

Colour: Pale buttercup

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: May 2004

Alcohol: 61.2%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Cask No. 112.7                              $130

Youthful vigour in a barrel prison

Highland, Western

The nose had sweetness (butterscotch, honey, syrup) but that was held fast by a barrel stave prison of woody, spicy aromas – clove, hot cross buns, glossy magazines, charred and toasted oak and vanilla. It seemed creamier and more perfumed with water – beeswax, linseed oil, hazelnut and Yankee candles. The palate had a youthful vigour involving gooseberry, pea-pods, green olives, grass, greenhouses and glue – but also carried silky textures, marshmallow and toffee bonbon sweetness and interesting citrus. In reduction, we tasted apple skins, cream soda and pot-pourri – light but pleasantly refreshing stuff to delight Captain Haddock (Tintin) whose favourite dram this is.

Drinking tip: Fairly easy-drinking, anytime whisky – but would go well with Tintin comics or movies

Colour: Golden syrup

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 13 years

Date distilled: September 2000

Alcohol: 58.5%

USA allocation: 150 bottles

Cask No. G1.12                    $135

Mouth-puckering citrus and pleasant sweetness

Grain

The nose seemed delicate, yet also lively – gardens after rain, honey, vanilla, waffles, pepper and pine – but mainly fruit (melon, tangerine, grapefruit, strawberry, lemon, lime). The neat palate combined mouth-puckering citrus with pleasant sweetness (crème anglaise, honey nut cornflakes, lemon puffs) to balance; then leather, cocoa and dry woody spices (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg) on the finish. The reduced nose was a joy – lemon-scented candles, lemon drizzle cake, orange barley water, orange blossom and subtle shades of liquorice, cumin and tarragon. The palate now had lemon sherbet, lime zest and French fancies, with pencil shavings, gingerbread and star anise in the after-taste.

Drinking tip: A summery dram, perfect for a pre-barbeque dram in the garden to get the juices flowing

Colour: Apricot blush gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 23 years

Date distilled: December 1990

Alcohol: 60.3%

USA allocation: 72 bottles

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society at www.smwsa.com