Duncan Taylor Port Ellen 1983 Zodiac | incl. tax: £12,995.00

Only 12 decanters from this range have been produced, each decanter individually engraved with one animal from the Chinese sign of Zodiac painted by Mr. Gray. The decorated decanter is housed in an exquisite, hand crafted box made in Scotland, from native Scottish hardwood, designed by master craftsman, Kenny Donaldson, whose work has been featured in numerous interior design magazines and many journals. Each box has been upholstered using leather from the same company who supply Aston Martin with the leather for their luxury sports cars. This exclusive range of 12 is accompanied with the signed original Ian Gray painting (approximately 95 x 75 cm) . Each piece has its own whisky passport tracing the whisky’s origin, age and true identity.

Karuizawa 1984 Sherry Cask #3663

The news: we have a new Karuizawa going up on the website – Karuizawa 1984 Sherry Cask #3663 bottled 2013 at 56.8%. However, we’ve decided that we’re going to do things a little differently with this release… The problem with … Continue reading >>

BALLANTINE’S UNVEILS DIGITAL REVOLUTION WITH TSHIRTOS 2.0 

tshirtOS 2.0 revealed to global audience at Pernod Ricard Innovation Day  

A video* of tshirtOS 2.0 in operation can be viewed here 

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky, today unveiled tshirtOS 2.0 – the world’s first scrunchable and washable digital t-shirt which allows wearers to display text of their choice and animation in real time – to the world’s media at the second edition of Pernod Ricard’s “Innovation Day” event in Paris, France. 

Representing one of the most advanced pieces of apparel-focused wearable technology available today, tshirtOS 2.0 is an illuminated blank canvas – an innovative approach to using technology for the purpose of self-expression and to show the world the ‘True You’, abiding by the Ballantine’s mantra of ‘Stay True’. It has been designed to allow individuals to create their own designs and express their true thoughts without relying on the statements of others, displaying their creations via the shirt’s in-built LED technology. 

tshirtOS 2.0 is a revolution in design on the prototype innovated by Ballantine’s and Cute Circuit in 2012.  Created with the latest in micro-technology by leading wearable technology experts SWITCH – a San Francisco based fashion technology company, tshirtOS 2.0 is lightweight and made with fine cotton modal for a soft touch.  It is also hand-washable and can be scrunched, folded and even withstand spillages without affecting its use – making it usable in real life scenarios. 

A mobile application which functions as a bridge between the t-shirt and the internet controls the in-built operating system (OS), allowing the user to send and receive data and to control content displayed on the t-shirt. An initial run of 20 units has been manufactured and will be showcased in key Ballantine’s markets around the world in the coming months. 

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, commented: “tshirtOS 2.0 represents a truly innovative way for consumers to express themselves and answer Ballantine’s invitation to ‘Stay True’, by literally creating and then wearing an expression of themselves on their chest. Wearable technology is going to be one of the key trends of 2014, and we can’t wait to give Ballantine’s fans around the world the chance to see and experience tshirtOS 2.0 for themselves.” 

Alison Lewis, Founder of SWITCH and co-creator of tshirtOS 2.0, added: “tshirtOS 2.0 is a whole new way for people to create, share and express themselves through fashion. It’s soft, feels great on and is completely undetectable as technology. We are very pleased to be working with Ballantine’s on such a magical and inspirational product.” 

More details on tshirtOS 2.0 will be released in the coming months via tshirtOS.com and at @tshirtOS.

Notes: 

* Video shown is of a tshirtOS 2.0 test unit 

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 120 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.

www.ballantines.com 

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.

www.chivasbrothers.com 

About SWITCH

SWITCH is a fashion technology company who builds elegant, connected clothing and accessories. Founded by Alison Lewis in 2012, SWITCH is built upon the principles that fashion is the function and craftsmanship with quality materials amplifies and improves our human experiences.

www.switchembassy.com

Cask No. 53.187                             $175 

Simplicity at its best

Islay

We found ourselves on a warm sunny day sitting on the harbour wall with fish & chips for lunch and the fresh aroma of heavily starched white sheets on the washing line is being carried by the sea breeze. The tide is going out and smells of rock pools, mussels and oyster shells are emerging. The taste neat is a fine combination of sweetness and wood smoke, Arbroath smokies being prepared on the beach. With the addition of water we moved from the harbour along the coastline to a peat bog. Briny and salty aromas fill the air as we cut the peat and spread it out across the moor to dry. The taste is now that of smoky bacon, bacon frazzles, honey glazed ham and the minty sweet finish of Mentos.

Drinking tip: As a reward after a hard day’s work

Colour: Chartreuse French liqueur

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 22 years

Date distilled: January 1991

Alcohol: 51.2%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Cask No. 4.183                               $125

Something for Everyone

Highland, Island

Where do we start – sweet like an apple flan or a Garibaldi biscuit or heather honey, savoury like roasted tomatoes with basil or a Miso soup or Bovril. At the same time briny, smoky, sooty and ashy with perfume notes of exotic cedar. The taste is a mouth-watering mixture of toasted peanuts, treacle tart with clotted cream and a balsamic tahini dressing over a salad with toasted sesame seeds. Water adds maritime aromas of fish boxes, driftwood and seaweed as well as sea salted dark chocolate and berry Pavlova topped with vanilla whipped cream. The taste is now burnt toast with salted butter and marmalade as well as garlic Indian Nan bread.

Drinking tip: Before, during and after a barbeque on the beach

Colour: Red gold

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 13 years

Date distilled: June 2000

Alcohol: 62.1%

USA allocation: 54 bottles

Cask No. 7.89                                 $205

The Perfect Comfort Blanket

Speyside, Lossie

The nose neat is very comforting; bread and butter pudding, plum crumble, dark chocolate with raspberries or bitter orange, caramelised sugar, an empty cigar box and freshly ground coffee. The taste did not disappoint; Peach Melba yoghurt with a sprinkling of white pepper as well as cinnamon and cardamom. Only a drop of water transported us into the kitchen for breakfast; fruit scones, brioche, toast, Golden syrup sponge cake, cocoa powder and fresh fruit salad. The taste is very moist like an apple sponge cake or a peach cobbler with custard and vanilla ice cream. This is a classic example from the distillery that switched from direct coal firing to steam heating as late as 1994.

Drinking tip: On a warm summer’s evening in the garden

Colour: Moroccan gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 27 years

Date distilled: September 1985

Alcohol: 54.1%

USA allocation: 54 bottles

Cask No. 76.105                                     $155

A continuous snow-fall of curiosities

Speyside, Spey

The nose spread a smear of sweetness (Danish pastries, Victoria sponge, Wagon Wheels) textured by a continuous snow-fall of curiosities – aniseed, Kummel, grappa, sandalwood, conifers, grass, leather, raisins, pineapple and sherry – complex and intriguing. Adding water brought out the fruitiness – strawberry, pear, kiwi and tinned fruit cocktail. The palate, though big and hot, had sweet juicy fruits and a succession of mouth-watering flavours – apple skins, blackcurrant Starburst in waxed paper and egg-custard tart. The heat came from ginger, nutmeg and pepper spice, but (especially with water) this was a refreshing, smooth and enjoyable dram from the first of Dufftown’s seven stills.

Drinking tip: To get the juices flowing on a Sunday afternoon

Colour: Hay in the moonlight

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 19 years

Date distilled: May 1993

Alcohol: 59.3%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Cask No. 77.30                               $95

Attractively accessible and mouth-watering

Highland, Northern

The nose was attractively accessible, with barley sugars, cream soda, fondant sweets, shortbread and pastry with custard – other notes included fresh linen, lemon, pear sorbet, candied angelica, orange zest, flowers and felt-tip pens. Some preferred it with water – tinned fruits in syrup, lime, under-ripe mango, daffodil stems, cream horns and malted cereal. The palate was straightforward and easy-drinking, yet mouth-watering; stewed apples, pears in syrup, vanilla, pineapple tarts, caramelised sugar, hessian and cayenne pepper. The reduced palate was softer and more ‘giving’ – toffee, tablet, rice pudding, apricot jam, tropical fruits and sherbet fizz. The distillery complex includes a substantial maltings.

Drinking tip: Suited to an afternoon in springtime – aperitif perhaps

Colour: Pale yellow

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: April 2003

Alcohol: 61.9%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

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

Midlands Whisky Festival – Spring 2014 

Date:  Saturday, 29^th March 2014 

Venue: Stourbridge Town Hall, DY8 1YE 

• Nickolls and Perks (Short-listed for Spirits Retailer of the Year Award 2014) will be hosting this increasingly popular event for the fifth time, attracting visitors from all over the UK.
• The largest whisky festival in England outside London
• Just 30 minutes from Birmingham by train
  Now with improved access and parking
  (new 500 place car park, adjacent to the Town Hall Just 100m from our shop)
• Over 200 different drams, over 300 visitors
• Unrivalled selection of rare “Dream Drams”
• Masterclasses conducted by industry experts
• Whiskies available to be purchased on the day at our on-site Festival shop or nearby retail premises
• Excellent spacious facilities – relaxed atmosphere 

Ticket info:

Standard Tickets at £40.00 include:

Entrance at the official opening hour (12.0 pm)
Access to the tasting Experience (over 200 whiskies)
A Free Glencairn Whisky Festival Glass
One Dream Dram Token – to exchange for one rare and exotic whisky
Discount Vouchers – redeemable at the Whisky festival shop on the day
Mini Masterclass – Registration on the day is necessary (limited numbers) 

Premium Tickets at £75.00 include:

Entry to the Festival 1 Hour 15 minutes before the official opening hour
Access to the tasting experience (over 200 whiskies)
VIP Masterclass Entry – A 1 hour Super premium Tasting (Masterclass Suite)
Mini Masterclasses – registration necessary on day (limited numbers) Stage area.
A free Glencairn Whisky Festival glass
Two Dream Dram Tokens to exchange for TWO rare and exotic whiskies♦
Discount Vouchers – redeemable at the whisky festival shop on the day
Access to Premium ticket holder space on stage 

Devotee Tickets at £120.00 include all the benefits of the Premium Ticket plus:

Sample bottles of the entire selection of dream drams
Complimentary hot food.

Contact Dave Gardener for further details

Email: david@nickollsandperks.co.uk

Web:  http://www.whiskyfest.co.uk/

Tel: +44(0)1384 394518

The last week has been a bit of a blur in the wake of our Burns Supper and Year End Inventory Sale. Our 9th Annual Burns Supper with Peter Currie from Duncan Taylor went off without a hitch. We had a great range of Duncan Taylor whiskies, including the stunning and tropical Black Bull 40 Year ($302.99). We also introduced two new exclusive Duncan Taylor KWM casks due early in the Spring from Mortlach and Deanston, more details below.

We’d also like to thank all of you who checked out our year-end inventory sale this weekend, in store and online. You cleaned us out! We’ll be rebuilding the whisky section over the next few weeks and have a lot of exciting new things on the way, like the Duncan Taylor casks mentioned above.

There are a pair of really exciting events coming up over the next two weeks, beginning with a Compass Box Dinner at Buchanans Chop House on Tuesday February 4 with brand ambassador Chris Maybin. We’ll be sampling a range of 8 Compass Box whiskies including the two new Great King Street Experimental Batches and a very curious new release called, The General. The General $259.99, due this coming Wednesday, is a very old blend made up of whiskies at least 33 years of age (some even older). The dinner includes a three course meal at Buchanans and 8 whiskies for just $90. Frankly it’s a steal.

On Thursday February 13 we have something really exciting in store (no pun intended, it is an offsite event) The Great Macallan Tasting, $225. Two weeks ago a six liter bottle of the Macallan ‘M’ auctioned for charity broke the record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold. When the hammer dropped in Hong Kong, the final price was nearly USD$630,000.00. It was a stunning sale, not only because the whisky had no age statement, but also because it can be had in a 700ml bottle for CAD$4,000.00. I was keen on trying the whisky before the auction, now I’m dying to. Curious? You’ll find more details on the Great Macallan Tasting below.

Finally I am gearing up for another year of Ferguson Whisky Tours adventures with a May 11-17 trip to the Speyside and trips to Islay (September) and Kentucky (October) in the works. Send me a note if you’d like some further details. More to come in the next Malt Messenger and shortly on www.fergusonwhiskytours.com.

Hopefully we’ve peaked your curiosity, and we’ll see you at one of these great events. There are some tasting notes below for a few new whiskies as well and some details on a few others. Until next time, I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market

PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .

Compass Box Dinner with Chris Maybin

Tuesday February 4, 7PM, at Buchanan’s Chop House, $90

Join us at Buchanan’s Chophouse 738 3 Avenue SW, Tuesday February 4, for a whisky dinner/tasting with Chris Maybin, Brand Ambassador for Compass Box Whisky. This boutique blending firm has made a name for itself over the last decade as the first boutique blender of Scotch whisky. Small though they may be, they’ve almost singlehandedly reinvigorated the Blended Scotch whisky category. We’ll be sampling a number of new limited edition releases including the 10th Anniversary Peat Monster special release, two experimental batches of the Great King Street Blend, an exciting new release called “The General”, a blend consisting of whiskies more than 33 years old! In all we’ll sample 8 Compass Box Whiskies while exploring the brand and enjoying a three course meal. 8 whiskies and a three course meal at Buchanans for just $90!

For more information or to register call 403-283-8000 or visit our website: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php.

The Great Macallan Tasting Featuring ‘M’

Your chance to taste the world’s most expensive whisky! February 13, $225

I’d only just seen the news online when a reporter from CBC called me for my thoughts on a bottle of Macallan which had sold at auction for $630,000.00, a new record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold had just been set. I was then and still am a little baffled, because the sale, the proceeds of which went to charity, was a stupendous sum to pay for a whisky with no age statement. The Scotch in question was a 6L version of the Macallan ‘M’ (CAD$3,800.00), the pinnacle whisky of the distillery’s new 1824 Series, all of whose whiskies are without age statements. 1750 of the regular 700-750ml Lalique Crystal Decanters were distributed around the world, including a couple of dozen for Canada. Four six liter Imperial Decanters were also produced, with one going to a private buyer in China, the distillery keeping two for themselves and the fourth put up for auction. The Macallan Brand is the darling of whisky collectors, especially on the super-premium end, but the sale price still caught everyone, including yours truly by surprise.

A little over 5 years ago Kensington Wine Market conducted out first Ancient Malts tasting at KWM with a bottle of the Macallan 50 Year Lalique, the first whisky in a collaborative series of six bottlings with the world famous crystal producer. I opened the whisky on air for the CBC, I was stunned. The following two nights I poured it for 40+ customers at two sold out KWM tastings, it was a hit! The whisky was stunning, and was the oldest and most expensive bottle we had ever opened. So when I heard about the new offering Macallan ‘M’ I knew we had to open one, there would have to be another tasting. I was intrigued by it, sure there was no age statement, but this was clearly rare old whisky. Could it be the successor to the 50 Year?

Kensington Wine Market will be opening the Macallan ‘M’ $3,800.00 (or $630K if you want a large format bottle…) at the Grand Macallan Tasting on Thursday February 13 at the Southern Alberta Pioneers Hall, 3625 4th Street SW. We also be sampling the 1824 Series: Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby as well as a couple of other Macallans to round things out. $225 is a small price to pay for a night of good company, and a chance to taste the world’s most expensive whisky.

Call 403-283-8000 to buy a ticket or do so online at: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php  .

Taking Pre-Orders: New KWM Duncan Taylor Casks

Mortlach 1995 18 Year & Deanston 1994 19 Year
Duncan Taylor has one of the largest privately held collections of Scotch whisky casks in the world. A couple of years ago they launched their innovative and trademarked Octave Program which finishes whiskies in 1/8th size custom sherry casks. These small casks kick the maturation process into overdrive as there a great ratio of surface are to liquid giving more opportunity for interaction. Kensington Wine Market has selected two Octaves to be bottled exclusively for our store, launching them at our Robbie Burns Supper on January 25th in Calgary with brand ambassador Peter Currie. The whiskies will be available from the store in May or June. We are accepting pre-orders on these small casks.

1. Duncan Taylor Mortlach 1995 KWM Octave – 18 Year – 55.4% – My Tasting Note: Nose: meaty like a good Mortlach should be right off the bat; dark fruits, earthy leather and tobacco over a backbone of honey and vanilla; notes of coffee bean and cinnamon stick and cardamom emerge later; Palate: round, fruity, spicy and syrupy; classic Christmas cake and candied fruit notes right off the bat with treacle sauce and maple syrup; layers of chocolate, tobacco and leather develop with dark spices like anise, clove and fennel; Finish: long, fruity and sweet with more Christmas cake and maple syrup and a final flourish of candied fennel. – $169.99 Estimated Retail Price
2. Duncan Taylor Deanston 1994 KWM Octave – 19 Year – 54.7% – My Tasting Note: Nose: “fresh, creamy and fruity with malt and round oak; some nice weight with notes of melons, Creme Anglaise, candied fruits, orange rind and some growing hints of spice; Palate: rich, creamy and layered with lots of tingling spice; the fruits and creamy oak come rapidly to the fore with the malt and spices coming in the second wave; lots of different fruits from soft melons to orange rinds and candied cherries; candied ginger and Cinnamon hearts add a layer of decadent spice; Finish: long, lingering and coating with toasty oak spices and clean earthy oak lingering long while the fruits and cream fade. – $174.99 Estimated Retail Price

A few new drams to tickle your taste buds!

We have four exciting new whiskies from Compass Box in stock or due this coming Wednesday and a trio of new whiskies from a new independent bottler: First Editions. I’ve also included a tasting note on the new Talisker 57 North and Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3. Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3 is flying out the door just as its predecessors did. It is a great whisky at a great price, but not for long… The price on this whisky will be going up by about $20 to reflect international demand for it and the reality of a falling Canadian dollar. It will still be a great buy at around $105, but it is a steal while it lasts at $83.99!

1. Compass Box Great King Street Experimental Batch 1 – 43% – The Sherried Blend consisting of 28% Lowland Grain and 72% Malt mainly from the Highlands and Speyside with a trace amount from Islay. – Only 120 bottles have come to Canada! – $39.99
2. Compass Box Great King Street Experimental Batch 2 – 43% – The Peaty Blend consisting of 33% Lowland Grain Whisky and 67% Islay Malt – Only 120 bottles have come to Canada! – $39.99
3. Compass Box Peat Monster 10th Anniversary – 48.9% – The limited edition release exclusive to KWM consists of a blend of malts from Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Clynelish and a few other distilleries, mainly matured in new American oak with about 2% finished in new French oak. – $99.99
4. Compass Box The General – 53.4% – Exclusive to KWM in Calgary – Only 48 Bottles Available with nearly half spoken for. – The General is a blend of two whiskies which were long ago independently blended, married and forgotten in the cask. The youngest whiskies in the blend are 33 years of age! – $259.99

 
5. First Edition Glen Scotia 1991 – 59.6% – 22 Year – Refill Barrel – My Tasting Note: Nose: creamy and fruity, with soft caramel and a hint of salt; vanilla pods and Demerara sugars; Palate: big and spicy with loads of rich toasty oak, white peachy fruits, a hint of clean smoke and salty caramel; there is a hint of something vaguely tarry which along with spices gives some edge to the otherwise very creamy malt; Finish: lots of layers, toasty oak and more clean salty smoke with caramel.” – $141.49
6. First Edition Littlemill 1988 – 55.8% – 24 Year – Refill Hogshead – Exclusive to KWM – My Tasting Note: Nose: “floral and creamy, peaches and apricots with white grapes; the white fruit really starts to come out with apples and pear; Palate: floral and decadent with lots of sugars and some firm toasty oak; French style crepes with powdered sugar and lemon juice; melon, pineapple and some other tropical notes; Finish: long and creamy with lots of soft vanilla, more trop fruits and long lingering floral tones.” – $189.99
7. First Edition Miltonduff 1995 – 58.3% – 18 Year – Refill Hogshead – My Tasting Note: Nose: “raisins and coconut shavings and Scottish cranachan; mango and papaya with some toffee cake and chewy malt; Palate: round and malty with some lovely American oak notes: vanilla, coconut and toasty honey; both white and light tropical fruit notes with some grassy malt; Finish: long, malty and honeyed with some drying toasted oak and more coconut.” – $141.99
8. Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 3 – 54.9% – No Age Statement – Oloroso & PX Sherry – My Tasting Note: “Nose: firm leather, chocolate orange, candied fruits and treacle sauce; Palate: rich, fruity and layered with some late spices; it gently warms the palate with notes of candied fruits, leather and some earthy spices; Finish: long, rich, fruity and sweet with tingling-drying spice.” – $83.99
9. Talisker 57 North – 57% – Originally Duty Free Only – Only 168 bottles came to Alberta – My Tasting Note: “Nose: lovely layers of oily peat, clean salty smoke and hot peppery spices; waxed citrus fruits and floral heather honey; Palate: round and fruity with more oily peat oils, citrussy fruits and a backbone of floral honey; white chocolate sauce, decadent hot spice and some growing dark salty smoke; Finish: long, coating and rich with the soft peat oils, floral honey and spices going the distance.” – $159.99

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger!

Contact & Disclaimers

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com . All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change, don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000

Diageo Colin Dunn Malt Whisky Masterclass

Gartbreck Distillery will be built in 2014 

Ernie- Ernst J. Scheiner, The Gateway to Distilleries at www.whisky-distilleries.net  

Martine and Jean Donnay are the people behind the distillery project. They run Glann Ar Mor Distillery in Brittany. 

Planning permission was granted to them by the Argyll and Bute Council on Friday 24th, January 2014 to demolish and rebuild Gartbreck in order to build a new gin– and whisky distillery. (Correction – Gartbreck is very much a “whisky distillery” rather than a “gin and whisky distillery”. There will actually be some gin or another white spirit being produced on site which will represent a useful complement during the first years of operation when no whisky will be available. Yet, the relevant volume will be very limited and aimed at being sold locally at the distillery’s visitor centre. This activity will be very marginal in the running of the distillery).

Plans are public, please see HERE:  

Construction of the distillery will start in May 2014 and distilling is planned to start in autumn 2015. 

The new craft distillery on a farm at magic Saltpan Point will certainly revive Scotland’s heritage of farm distilleries and will be a tourist hot spot of the whisky enthusiasts around the world. 

Everybody will admire the still house with a large window facing Loch Indaal as they do when visiting Jean Donnay’s beautiful Glann Ar Mor Distillery in Brittanny. The stillroom with its wide window makes for a rather special charming atmosphere and symbolizes a very close relation to nature and the sea. 

See for more details and particular Gartbreck plans HERE:  

According to the planning application, there will be a malt barn with floor maltings and a kiln with a drying floor, a still house with a pair of pot stills for malt distillation with exterior worm tubs and a still room for gin production, a malt store, six washbacks, filling and bottling room, warehouse, offices and a visitor centre. 

The pot stills will be fire heated and be the only ones oft hat type on the island. According to Jean Donnay the distillery will produce 100% peated single malt. About 20% of the malt required will be malted on their own malting floor and dried in their kiln on site. The whisky distilled will be made by using 20% Barley from Islay and the rest from mainland Scotland. In ist first year they intend to produce about 60,000 LPA. There will be a small dunnage warehouse on site. Gartbreck whisky will primarily mature in Boubon casks but some will also mature in Sherry casks. 

Gin will also be distilled on site. 

There are rumours that the former longtime Distillery Manager of Caol Ila, Billy Stitchell, (this has been proved to be incorrect – Billy Stitchell will not be working with or at Gartbreck Distillery – the distillery will be managed by Jean Donnay) will be involved in setting up Gartbreck Distillery and be overlooking its production.

The hardworking innovative French couple Martine and Jean Donnay will certainly increase the diversity and quality of Islay whiskies from 2018 onwards. 

NOTES

Glan Ar Mor Distillery http://www.glannarmor.com

Gartbrecks‘ people: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ileach/3995999675/

The Gateway to Distilleries www.whisky-distilleries.net

Photos Courtesy of Alex Reid 2013.

About the Author: Ernie – Ernst J. Scheiner M.A. was a director in an adult education centre. Ernie offers courses on whisky distilling, writes for newspapers, magazines and blogs such as www.whiskyexperts.at. He is the editor of The Gateway to Distilleries at www.whisky-distilleries.net which gives an excellent photographic and educational insight into the whisky industry of Scotland, Ireland, Europe and Asia.

Please see also: http://www.whisky-distilleries.net

An epic & gorgeous roadtrip round Scotland, visiting each of the group’s home town/village, interspersed with footage from our live shows on tour in 2013. Filmed & directed by http://www.cherrytree-films.com/.  Jocks Revenge is a registered track with MCPS/PRS Tunecode 135689LW. For more info on Whisky Kiss visit http://www.whiskykiss.com/. Jocks Revenge – the single – is now available to buy on iTunes (exciting!!). We hope you liked it! from all of us at Whisky Kiss http://www.whiskykiss.com/ 

Lovingly sent from ANGELS WHISKY CLUB

http://www.angelswhiskyclub.com/

Teeling Whiskey announces plans for new Dublin whiskey distillery 

Reviving the Spirit of Dublin – €10m Investment to create over 30 new jobs in Dublin’s Liberties 

Wednesday, 29^th January – The Teeling Whiskey Company (TWC) has announced plans for a new whiskey distillery to be located in Dublin’s Newmarket Square in The Liberties, Dublin 8.  This will be the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years and brings the Teelings home to their ancestral roots.  The Teeling Whiskey Distillery will start production in the fourth quarter of 2014 with the visitor centre opening its doors in early 2015, investing €10million into The Liberties based location and creating at least 30 full time jobs. The distillery will also see 50 jobs created in the construction phase. 

The Teeling Whiskey brand is already on sale in Ireland and over 18 export markets.  The construction of the new distillery will guarantee future supply for the Teeling Whiskey brands and allow the creation of a range of innovative and authentic Irish whiskeys based on the traditional and unique Dublin style of distillation. The proposed new Pot Still distillery will have the capacity to produce 500,000 litres of whiskey on an annual basis and will consist of three traditional copper Pot Stills reviving the traditional style of the old Dublin distilleries. 

Jack Teeling, Founder and Managing Director of the Teeling Whiskey Company commented; 

“We are proud to be returning to our ancestral distilling roots which trace back to 1782 in The Liberties. This project will bring distilling back to an area of Dublin long associated with world class whiskey which at one stage had 37 different operational distilleries. Building a working distillery is just one part of our plan for the Newmarket site which will also involve the development of an integrated visitor experience to showcase the rich distilling history of Dublin and in particular The Liberties.  Dublin whiskey was at the forefront of the last golden age of Irish whiskey.  We aim to revive the Spirit of Dublin by putting Dublin and Teeling Whiskey firmly back on the map again. 

“It is unquestionable that there has been significant growth in the Irish whiskey market worldwide, particularly in the US, and we want to be the leaders in creating a bright new future for Irish and Dublin whiskey.  The new distillery will guarantee future supply and ensure we control the distilling process from grain to bottle, whilst also giving consumers the opportunity to further interact with the brand, as we revive the old tradition of whiskey distilling in The Liberties.” 

“We are really excited about opening the doors and are looking forward to welcoming Dubliners and tourists alike to learn about the history of Teeling Whiskey, the unique whiskey heritage of The Liberties and experience a full operational Irish whiskey distillery.”  

Plans for the Teeling Whiskey Distillery and visitors centre were welcomed by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD. The centre expects to welcome 40,000-50,000 through the doors in year one, increasing to 100,000 thereafter. 

“The food and drinks sector is an area we have targeted for support as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs and Irish whiskey in particular is an area where there is rapidly-growing international demand, providing huge potential for jobs growth in Ireland. Today’s announcement by Teelings that it will invest €10million in a new distillery in the Liberties with the creation of 30 new jobs and 50 temporary construction jobs is great news and a strong indication of what is possible in this area. This will bring a huge boost to the local community and I wish all involved every success”.