Alan Winchester, Master Distiller of The Glenlivet, will be hosting a live Hangout today (February 1st) with eight members of The Glenlivet’s fanclub, The Guardians of The Glenlivet, which will be streamed live at 6pm UK time on its YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Zx9XzeNqI 

The Hangout will include a virtual tour of the distillery and a live discussion about all areas of whisky production. Alan will be answering questions so ahead of the Hangout, we’re inviting whisky fans across the world to submit questions for him on Twitter, including @TheGlenlivet and using the hashtag #DiscoverTheGlenlivet. Alan will then answer the best questions during the Hangout.

The live streaming will start at 6PM UK time.

www.ralfy.com explores a form which exceeds flavour with Whisky Review 426 – Bowmore 17yo Malt Whisky (BB&R)

New TWE Exclusives from Ledaig and Glentauchers

Despite mentioning how we of the drinks business like to have a bit of a rest in January in my Burns Night post, it seems that this year there is to be no further rest. Over the last couple of … Continue reading >>

The Friends of the Quaich whisky club, Vancouver Island, Canada, enjoyed a whisky tasting for Burns Night! 

January 2014; The Burns unit team. 

Friends of the Quaich, Robbie Burns supper and tastings, January 28th 2014. 

Our hosts, Martin and Margaret Hill. Hats off to Martin and Margaret for an excellent evening of great drams and excellent cuisine. Also, a big thank-you to all the gang, for the delicious and appetising dishes prepared for our Robbie Burns banquet.

Tasting: Up first, Aberlour 10 yr old, 43% ABV.  Nose: Hints of toffee and vanilla.  Palate: Buttery Sherry with toffee.  Finish: Malt, citrus and spice. 

Next up, The Peat Monster. 46% ABV.  Nose: Big peat. Salty. Sweet.  Palate: Smokey bacon, with hints of papaya.  Finish: More peat, sweet oak. 

Number three: Seagrams Crown Royal Maple. 40% ABV. More a liqueur than a whiskey.  Nose: Sweet Maple syrup hints of vanilla and oak.  Palate: Pancake syrup, some cinnamon, perhaps a little allspice.  Finish: Maple syrup lingers.  

Last up: Benriach Curiositas. 40% ABV.  Nose: Sublimely medicinal, sweet grassy asphalt and heather. Hints of malmsey.  Palate: At once sweet and heavily smoked. Peppery spice tingles, iodine, a warm nuttiness. Finish: Bittersweet, dry wood, creosote and fennel. Cheers, Mike.  

Paul’s note; that final dram finish; who in the group has tasted creosote?  Personally I would have left the Monster to the end. 

See more tasting notes from the friends here; http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/friendsofthequaicwhisky%20club.asp 

Angels Whisky Club is a free, worldwide membership whisky club, Patron Charlie Maclean.

Owned and run by Liz Gillespie & Paul McLean, owners of MCLEANSCOTLAND 

www.angelswhiskyclub.com

www.mcleanscotland.com

facebook; McLean whisky tours 

www.daleyirishtours.com

facebook; daley irish tours

Limited Edition and Hard to Find Single Malt Whiskies

Oban 21 year Old Single Malt Scotch $429.99
Springbank 21 Year Old Lombard Jewels of Scotland Bottling Single Malt Scotch $349.99
Port Ellen 33 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Rare Old Bottling Single Malt Scotch $1399.99
Lagavulin 37 Year Old Special Release 2013 Single Malt Scotch Bottling $3399.99
Talisker 1985 Maritime Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky $649.99

CORSAIR WINS “AMERICAN CRAFT DISTILLERY OF THE YEAR,” “AMERICAN WHISKY OF THE YEAR,” AND FOUR MEDALS IN THE WIZARDS OF WHISKY AWARDS.

Corsair crushed it this weekend at the Wizards of Whisky awards, winning “American Craft Distillery of the Year,” and a host of other medals and awards. This follows Corsair’s big 2013 win of “Craft Distiller of the Year” from Whiskey Magazine. Other notable awards included “American Whisky of the Year” and “American Grain Other Whisky of the Year” for Corsair Nashville Bourbon.
Saturday, January 25th, was Corsair’s 6 year anniversary, and this is the best anniversary/birthday present they could have received.

REGIONAL WINNERS: US CRAFT DISTILLERS
American Craft Distiller of the Year: Corsair
American Whiskey of the Year: Corsair Nashville Bourbon
American Other Grain of the Year: Corsair Nashville Bourbon

GOLD MEDALS:
Corsair Nashville Bourbon
Corsair Quinoa

SILVER MEDALS:
Corsair Ryemeggadon
Corsair Triple Smoke

“We are a small distillery, but we have big dreams. Our goal from day one has been to distill the best whiskey in the world, and Wizards of Whisky has been a great competition to be part of,” said Darek Bell.

Distillery owners Darek Bell, Andrew Webber, and Amy Lee Bell are thrilled. The American craft whiskey field has gotten incredibly competitive, with 500 new distilleries launching this year according to the American Distilling Institute’s president Bill Owens, making this win even sweeter for 6 year old Corsair. Winning against so many competitors is a real honor for the owners.

“It is exciting to compete in the International competitions, and compete with the best whiskeys in the world in front of top International judges and whiskey experts,” said cofounder Andrew Webber. Wizards of Whisky is the brainchild of whisky author, judge, and expert Dominic Roskrow.

2014 has started off with a bang for Corsair. Corsair Quinoa whiskey won an “Innovator of the Year” award for Whisky Magazine, the second innovator award for Corsair Distillery.

Corsair does not source its whiskey from large distillers, but hand distills each batch in small pot stills.

Since its inception 6 years ago, Corsair has won 74 medals and awards at international spirits competitions. Publications and media outlets such as The New York Times, Food and Wine, The Atlantic, Saveur, Tastings, Chilled, Imbibe, Beverage Industry, Beverage World, In The Mix, Whisky Magazine, Time Out New York, Garden and Gun, Whisky Advocate, Southern Living, Details, Men’s Health, Esquire, Wine Enthusiast, CBS News, Food Republic, and Maxim have featured and praised Corsair’s spirits and Corsair Distillery as a whole.

Website: http://www.corsairartisan.com
Twitter: @corsairartisan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corsairartisan
Wizard of Whisky Awards page: http://worldwhisky.co.uk/#/news/4576628297

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Introducing Scottish Whisky Cruises. We offer our guests a unique journey. Approaching these iconic distilleries and their surrounding nature from the oak decks of an ex-wooden warship provides an unforgettable experience that few visitors will ever get to enjoy.

Our chef prepares all meals onboard with the emphasis being on fresh Scottish food and using whisky in a variety of ways.

Onboard whisky tastings are hosted in the oak paneled Officer’s Mess with the addition of food pairings to local produce adding a different dimension to your whisky experience. Our unique approach to whisky cruising ensures a magical journey for all of our guests.

Our boat, the Gåssten, is one of the last wooden warships ever built and she provides the perfect platform to experience this inspirational coastline and spiritual home of Single Malt. 

scottishwhiskycruises.com

info@scottishwhiskycruises.com
+46 722 06 94 88

Masters Series Winter 2014

Join us for a series of tastings featuring wine and spirits
chosen by one of America’s foremost wine and spirits authorities,
F. Paul Pacult, editor of The Spirit Journal.

Monday, February 3, 7:00 p.m.  

ROBBIE BURNS NIGHT…THE TRADITION CONTINUES
with David Blackmore, Master Brand Ambassador, 

The Glenmorangie Company 

This evening continues the custom of celebrating the life and work of Scotland’s Robert Burns, the composer of Auld Lang Syne, A Red, Red Rose, Tam O’Shanter, Ode To A Haggis, and many more.
Robbie Burns Night at Keens is an annual festival of bagpipe music, searing poetry, haggis and, most of all, the sensory enjoyment of 100% barley malt whiskies produced at two iconic distilleries, Glenmorangie in Tain and Ardbeg on Islay. 

$95 per person

For reservations call Keens Steakhouse (212) 947-3636
– Please register early as we expect this event to sell out –

Please fax back to us at (212) 714-1103

TOPS PICKS

• Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon 750ml (oversized bottle, ships as 1.5L) ($46.99)
  95 points Wine Enthusiast: “Pour it, and let it sit awhile; this one opens up and gets more aromatic, rich and flavorful, like wine. It starts off with a candied sweetness and touches of coconut and tea on the nose, then opens up to deeper caramel tones. Orange and caramel flavors, mellow, smooth, linger on the finish. Light-bodied, despite the bold, luxurious flavors. And oh, that pretty bottle, like an oversized perfume flask. Add this one to your gift list.” (09/2010) Wine Spectator: “Custard, pepper, orange peel and grassy rye fill the nose. In the mouth, it’s a breakneck ride: an initial rush of dry corn and grassy rye, a broad wave of sweeter corn in the middle, and a finish of sugar and rough spearmint. One of the first specialty Bourbons, and still one of the best. ” (02/2012) K&L Notes: The nose is very deep and satisfying. The taste has a masterful start with powerful dry vanilla notes in perfect harmony with strong hints of honey and caramel. The long, creamy caramel holds the fort until some late soft peppers arrive to spice things up. The underlying dryness amid the spice and honey really makes for a bourbon that should suit all tastes. “Double Gold Medal” winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

• Eagle Rare Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon 750ml ($24.99)
  Buffalo Trace was named Distiller of the Year by Whisky Magazine in 2005 and 2007 and by the Wine Enthusiast in 2006. Paul Pacult of the The Spirit Journal gave it four stars and said: “Easily one of the most tactile yet assertive and expressive bourbons I’ve tasted in the last two years; fasten your seatbelts.” Honey-colored, with aromas of toasted wheat bread and hints of tobacco, opening up to almond butter, melon and lanolin. On the palate it is oily and toasty with flavors of cereal grains and oak. The finish is long and corn sweet with a little spice.

NEW ARRIVALS

Scotland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml ($89.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Aberlour 18 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 4 available ($89.99)

• BenRiach 12 Year Old Horizons Triple Distilled Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($82.99)

• BenRiach 17 Year Old Septendicum Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($89.99)

• BenRiach 25 Year Old Authenticus Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 4 available ($279.99)

• Glenmorangie Companta Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)
  Glenmorangie’s 2014 special edition Companta is finally here! Hot off the heels of winning “Best Whisky of the Year” from Jim Murray for their 2013 special edition Ealanta, this year’s limited release utilizes red wine barrels from both Burgundy and the Rhone to infuse a red-fruited character that marries beautifully with the supple texture of Glenmorangie whisky. Using both American oak and cooperage from Clos de Tart winemakers, Dr. Bill Lumsden (Glenmo’s head of whisky creation) managed to transfer all of the fresh cherry and raspberry aromas of the legendary pinot noir over to the nose of the Companta whisky. The color is a pale burgundy in the glass and a delicate note of cherry cordial is present. The palate, however, delivers classic whisky character, albeit rather desserty in style: spice cake, fudge, and cocoa dominate the flavor profile, but the finish is dry and spicy. Overall, it’s a wonderfully-balanced malt and a huge f eather in the cap for Lumsden; taking a style of whisky (red wine enhanced single malt) that has rarely offered greatness and making it absolutely great. Whereas we had plenty of last year’s Ealanta in stock up until the “Best Whisky” award was announced, we doubt our customers will have that luxury this time around. Companta is one of the most anticipated limited releases of 2014 and it’s a great way to start off the year. There might be back-to-back accolades in Glenmorangie’s future. These will go fast.

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