Dramboree 2014 – Loch Lomond and a bottle of Ledaig

Strangely, the UK has fewer whisky festivals than elsewhere in the world. While we have more than 100 of the most famous distilleries in the world sitting north of the Scots border, it’s on the continent that we see the most whisky-enthusiast gatherings.

While we have a range of whisky shows, from the beginner-friendly Whisky Lounge through to our own big-ticket Whisky Show, the enthusiast-run festival is something we see a lot less of. One of my favourites of the past few years has been Maltstock, which takes place in Nijmegen in the eastern Netherlands – it’s a gathering of whisky fans who all bring a bottle or two for a weekend of sitting around, talking rubbish and drinking whisky.
Ever since my first year at Maltstock, one constant topic of conversation has been as to whether the event would work in the UK. Generally, the feeling was that it wouldn’t, what with us not having so much of a tradition of fan-run whisky festivals. Fortunately, that didn’t stop Jonny Macmillan and Jason B Standing, who set up a British version of Maltstock in 2013 – Dramboree.

The fine folks who made it to Dramboree 2014.

Annoyingly I missed the first one, although m’colleague Rocky made it and reported back on an excellent weekend. However, in July I made up for it by going to Dramboree #2.

Held on the shores of Loch Lomond, it was an excellent weekend of whisky and general shenanigans. Along with a table full of bottles to share, it also featured tastings of some new and upcoming bottlings from Dewar’s (keep an eye out for a range of single malts from Craigellachie, Aultmore, Glen Deveron and Royal Brackla sometime soon) and Highland Park (one of the first tastings of the new Dark Origins), a range of old bottlings from the 1950s onwards, a sensory whisky experience with Annabel Meikle, and a call for action from The Whisky Shop Dufftown’s Mike Lord to define Dufftown as a new whisky region in itself.

However, the bit that most excited me was the reveal of something that we at TWE had put together for the weekend: an exclusive Dramboree bottling. Finding something peaty, sherried and affordable is no mean feat, and we were very pleased to have some tasty Ledaig in our stocks. Here’s what I thought:

Ledaig 8yo, Dramboree Bottling, £55

Nose: Sweet peat, mulchy ferns, bandages, candied peel, Haribo and, under it all, sweet, earthy smoke.
Palate: Big and feisty, with sweet bacon and charcoal hitting up front, followed by black pepper, liquorice, driftwood, rich river mud, tingly cinnamon and a touch of dark chocolate. Water reveals more dried fruit, as well as spice and sweetness.
Finish: Spicy and leafy, with liquorice and cinnamon slowly turning into Fisherman’s Friends.
Comment: I’m a bit of a sucker for Ledaig, so this ticks all the boxes for me – peaty, dark and sweet.
The Dramboree gang have now stocked up, so we’re opening sales to everyone who would like a bottle – just head over to our main website to grab one. Don’t wait too long, we’ve not got that much left…

The source of this single malt is a carefully guarded secret of the directors of Gordon & Macphail. Presented in a lovely decanter and case. £195

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky available on SAA and Kenya Airways

International visitors travelling on South African Airways (SAA) and Kenya Airways this August and September will have the unique opportunity to purchase Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, the award-winning South African grain whisky, on-board.

Named the World’s Best Grain Whisky at the 2013 World Whisky Awards held annually in London, this is the first on-board listing for Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, an opportunity made possible by Tourvest Inflight Retail Services (Tourvest IRS).

According to global marketing manager, Eliska Botha, these two new listings form part of steps towards making Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky available to consumers worldwide.

“Since launching in South African in 2009, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky has performed phenomenally at all the major international whisky competitions. The whisky has also ignited quite an interest globally but the high demand from consumers in South Africa has resulted in limited availability in the rest of the world. Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky currently sells only through duty-free and a select few retailers in the UK and Canada.

“Through this new on-board listing, international travellers will now be able to get to know our proudly South African whisky and take a bottle home with them. The international consumer-base travelling on these airlines are quite discerning and we believe that having Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky available within this premium environment will further strengthen interest worldwide. ”

In addition to being named World’s Best, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky has been awarded gold for the sixth consecutive year at the 2014 International Wine and Spirits Competition, won gold at the  2014 China Wine and Spirits competition and double gold at the 2013 New York International Spirits Competition.

The whisky is inspired by the Cape Mountains and the natural beauty of the area’s magnificent peaks, cool, sparkling streams, wooded valleys and an unmatched wealth of indigenous fynbos. Crafted at the James Sedgwick Distillery situated near the picturesque Bainskloof Pass in Wellington, in the Western Cape, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky pays tribute to Andrew Geddes Bain, the pioneering engineer who planned and built the pass in 1853.

Only the finest South African grain is used together with water that flows over an 850 million year-old sandstone and indigenous fynbos, setting Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky apart from any other whisky produced in the world. The whisky is quite uniquely double-matured and matured for three years in casks previously used for Bourbon, before being re-vatted into a fresh set of casks for a further maturation period that results in its exceptionally smooth and unique taste.

The whisky is a delicious combination of floral, banana, honey, toasted hazelnuts and toffee aromas. By adding a splash of water the whisky opens up to include wood, vanilla and sweet spice aromas and ends with an exceptionally smooth finish.

Catch the Night Shift!

On August 16th Barbara and Bob Townsend from the Miner’s Delight Inn in Atlantic City, Wyoming, will don their nineteenth century duds, load their wagon with whisky, and point the horses West to the Miners’ Exchange Saloon at the nearby South Pass City State Historic Site. The site is an authentic representation of the 1868 gold mining boom town, complete with the fully operational Carissa Gold Mill just outside of town. For the second time this year the site will offer lantern-lit tours of the mill.

When workers complete their night shift (tour) at the Carissa they’ll repair to the Miners’ Exchange Saloon, where Barbara and Bob will help them recover from their strenuous labors with three top-shelf single malt Scotch whiskies while their sidekick, John, tinkles the ivories on the saloon’s piano.

Tickets are available. For details visit the state historic site’s site:

http://www.southpasscity.com/cns.html 

Photo: Barbara and Bob Townsend at the Miners’ Exchange Saloon, South Pass City, Wyoming.

Glenturret 1986
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

The Famous Grouse (Official whisky sponsor) have released this limited edition whisky to celebrate the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. This special edition whisky is actually a Glenturret 1986 cask strength single malt; chosen because 1986 was the last time the Commonwealth Games was hosted in Scotland.

£148.00
(£123.33 ex vat)

Click here to purchase The Famous Grouse / Glenturret 1986

Highland Park Dark Origins

Dark Origins is the latest addition from Highland Park and has been created using twice as many first fill sherry casks than in the classic Highland Park 12 year old. Inspired by the cunning spirit and courageous personality of Highland Park’s infamous founder, Magnus Eunson.

£65.00
(£54.17 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Highland Park Dark Origins

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ryder Cup 2014

A limited edition design on this Johnnie Walker Blue, released in celebration of the Ryder Cup 2014, which is to be hosted later this year at the magnificent Gleneagles hotel in Perthshire, Scotland.

£258.00
(£215.00 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Johnnie Walker Blue Ryder Cup 2014

www.ralfy.com has an apple-infused malt-moment with Whisky Review 478 – Springbank Calvados Wood 12yo @ 46%

This week Joe Ellis reviews the Glenfiddich 21yo Gran Reserva Rum Cask Finish. 

http://youtu.be/CE6LpPCpTBI 

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

GLENGOYNE…COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU?

Our distillation process may be the slowest in Scotland, but once it’s matured there’s no stopping Glengoyne. We have a dram-packed summer of events to look forward to, starting with our role as Whisky Partner of Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms Fringe for the third time, which comprises both the extraordinary George Street Assembly Rooms and the spectacular Spiegeltent located, this year, in St Andrews Square. Both venues will play host to a variety of world-class music, comedy and cabaret shows throughout the month of August.

Glengoyne will also be making guest appearances in Australia, The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Prague. Click here for full details of what’s happening when.

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

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video