Ardbeg and cheese tasting (including Auriverdes!) – Wednesday 2 July at 7.30pm 

The team at Tomoka Spirits Boutique in St. Albans, Hertfordshire are delighted to announce a very special tasting of Ardbeg single malt whisky. 

We will be tasting the core range together with the new limited release Ardbeg Auriverdes and matching the whiskies with fantastic artisan cheeses. 

Tickets are £15 per person and are strictly limited. 

Please email us on billmccoy@tomokaspiritsboutique.co.uk or call on 01727 894869 to find out more and book your tickets. 

Tomoka Spirits Boutique
5A Christopher Place
St. Albans
Hertfordshire AL3 5DQ
01727 894869

http://www.tomokaspiritsboutique.co.uk/

IF YOU DON’T BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET…

 HIGHLAND PARK 1997 £39.95

PORT CHARLOTTE 2002 £67.95

ISLE OF JURA 1990 £79.95

… nobody else will! We are delighted with our latest exclusive own label bottlings. All of them are drawn from a single cask (so in limited supply) bottled unchillfiltered at 46% (except for the Jura at 51.1%) and have been quality control tested and fully approved by RMW staff! The Port Charlotte which has been 100% matured in a rum barrel and the cask strength 23 year old Jura are the stand out bottlings, which we are quietly confident will sell out swiftly. In addition to these two gems, we also have a Blair Athol, a Bunnahabhain and a Highland Park. Each bottling represents the distillery of it’s origin in a exceptionally positive light. We dare say that the relevant distillery owners might even regret selling some of these casks on once they try them!

FOR ALL GENERAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL: 0131 524 9380

or email: contact@royalmilewhiskies.com

Royal Mile Whiskies
Whisky Magazine’s ‘Retailer of the Year 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011’

Last Chance!
Early bird discount ends June 30th!
www.whiskyfest.com or call 800-514-3849

WhiskyFest is your opportunity to taste from a huge selection of whiskies from around the world, over 300 of them, including many that are rare and exclusive. Even better, they’re poured by the whisky distillers, master blenders, and other whisky experts who will be in attendance. If that’s not enough, there are also in-depth seminars conducted by those same experts throughout the night.

Your ticket will get you the grand tasting and access to the seminars, a Glencairn crystal whisky glass, handy event program, and a gourmet buffet that’s open all evening. You’ll enjoy all of this in the company of people who love whisky almost as much as you do!

Taste from a selection of more than 300 whiskies from around the world

Whisky Wednesday will return next week.

Managing Director of malt whisky specialists to retire 

The Managing Director of renowned single malt whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail is to retire later this year, it was announced today. 

Michael Urquhart will hand over to the Elgin-based firm’s current Chief Operating Officer, Ewen Mackintosh, in September.  

Mr Urquhart, a member of the third generation of the Urquhart family which owns Gordon & MacPhail, joined in 1981 as Finance Director after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. 

In 2007, he became joint Managing Director with his brother David. Since 2012 he has been the firm’s sole Managing Director. 

Mr Mackintosh, 46, who is from Elgin, has spent his entire career at Gordon & MacPhail after joining as a graduate from St Andrews University.  

Mr Urquhart said: “After 33 years – most of my working life – with Gordon & MacPhail, it is time to hand on the reins. It is gratifying to be able to do so at a time of such strong, sustained growth in the company. 

“I’m particularly pleased that I will be succeeded by Ewen, who has been an instrumental figure in the company since 1991. 

“He was a member of the team which restored Benromach Distillery after we purchased it in 1993 and has looked after our bulk whisky stocks and product quality.  

“He is a very safe pair of hands and it will very much be business as usual for Gordon & MacPhail.” 

Mr Mackintosh, who was recently made a Master of the Quaich in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the Scotch Whisky industry, said: “It will be a very rare privilege to lead this unique and well-respected company. 

“Along with my colleagues I will continue to promote our values of investing in quality for the long-term and look forward to helping Gordon & MacPhail grow and develop.” 

Mr Urquhart, who has travelled the world promoting single malt whisky, said he was very proud of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade awarded twice to Gordon & MacPhail, in 2009 and 2013. The company exports to more than 60 countries. 

Mr Urquhart was made a Master of the Quaich in 2012 and presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 by The Whisky Advocate, one of North America’s leading drinks publications.  

His daughter Laura is among several members of the fourth generation of the Urquhart family now working for Gordon & MacPhail. 

Mr Urquhart, who chairs the Highlands & Islands committee of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), added: “I will remain active in the community and continue to serve the whisky industry where I can, including remaining on the management committee of the Keepers of the Quaich. I will also be non-executive director of Gordon & MacPhail.”

The last couple of months have been constant and it’s quite a relief to finally get back behind the desk. May was officially Whisky month and I had the opportunity to work with BBC Radio Scotland’s Kitchen Cafe to produce a five part series discussing the different regions. Later in the month I had the chance to debut on BBC Breakfast which was focussing on food and drinks in Scotland and filmed at Peterhead Fish market. Naturally we had to include whisky although it may have proved too much for many before their breakfast! 

It was also a pleasure to be involved with the tantalising food pairings created by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society for their successful Clans and Drams celebration. The campaign was launched at Whisky Lounge in Edinburgh in great style and visitors were treated to buffalo burgers, haggis, sausages and smoked salmon to accompany their drams. 

The first weekend in May took me to the Spirit of Speyside Festival to take part in a variety of events and host the first collaboration between a bunch of great whisky girls. Johanne McInnes (Whisky Lassie) opened the day with huge style, followed by Alwynne Gwilt (Miss Whisky) who charmed her crowd with delectable chocolate and despite the warm room neither melted.  Angela D’Orazio from Mackmyra distillery concluded the day with a range of her bottlings, with a couple of malts from closer to home. 

Whisky month rumbled on taking in the Glasgow Whisky show and in between I squeezed in visits to Deanston, Glenrothes, Strathisla, Aberlour, Knockdhu, Glenfiddich and Ballindalloch.   

Tastings have included Iain Burnett chocolate and whisky at The Aviator Hotel in Farnborough, and a perfume and whisky adventure at Skene House in Aberdeen. A fund raising dinner took me to a fascinating exhibition event called ‘Scotland in Angola’ where I entertained an audience from the society of Luanda, including local artists and their work, the  British Ambassador and representatives from the Halo Trust. 

Like blended whisky, I really enjoy collaboration and I have teamed up with the Pommery Champagne Cafe Bar at the Signet Library for the month of August. On Sunday afternoon we are bringing together cocktails, chocolate and whisky. In the evening it’s officially single malt Sunday with Scottish tapas to compliment the experience. All the tickets are available through the Fringe office and I look forward to seeing your in this classic library space.   

Please contact me if you would like to discuss any ideas for tastings, events or anything in the good name of whisky. It’s still work in progress but I now have a dedicated page for The Whisky Belle on Facebook. Stay cool! 

Annabel

The Whisky Belle 

www.thewhiskybelle.com 

ROCK TOWN BOURBON SOCIAL

The Athenaeum Hotel, 116 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London

“AN EXCLUSIVE FOOD PAIRING EVENING”

July 4^th, 2014 at 7pm 

Little Rock, AR – (June 19, 2014) – On July 4th, as America celebrates Independence Day, the Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments will re-commence their popular Whisky Socials, aptly offering guests the chance to sample the delights of some of the world’s finest Bourbon Whisky from Rock Town Distillery, based in Little Rock, Arkansas. As is tradition, the evening will feature a specially prepared menu, with each course designed by Head Chef David Marshall and Whisky Sommelier Ivo Silva to complement the flavors and depth of the accompanying spirit. 

The Athenaeum’s distinguished Whisky Sommelier, one of only two in the UK, will be on hand to guide the guests through the legendary distilling and blending process that is used to create one of the most popular drinks in the world. Guests will be able to sample the different Bourbons produced by Rock Town Distillery with tasting notes to introduce guests and guide connoisseurs. Despite its relatively recent arrival onto America’s burgeoning craft distilling scene, Rock Town’s impact has been immediate and far-reaching with the remarkable capture of the World’s Best Bourbon prize at the World Whisky Awards 2013 – a landmark achievement quickly followed by a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

Rock Town is the first legal distillery in Arkansas since Prohibition and today makes the state’s only bourbon whiskey. Phil Brandon, Rock Town’s Founder and Head Distiller, will discuss the whiskies during the meal, take questions and share his stories about the wild world of whisky. 

Whisky Social tickets are priced at £55 per person. Ticket price includes cocktail and canapés on arrival and a full 3-course dinner with specially paired Whisky. 

See the menu here: http://www.athenaeumhotel.com/media/573387/rocktown-bourbon-menu.pdf 

For more information and to book a ticket, visit: http://athenaeumhotel.com/food/offers/whisky-socials/ 

ABOUT the athenaeum 

The fabulous 5 star Athenaeum hotel and apartments on Piccadilly is your home away from home in London. It offers you a huge choice of rooms, luxury suites and townhouse apartments, all with stunning leafy or Mayfair views. Here, you’re in the middle of everything. You’re right opposite the Royal Parks and Buckingham Palace. The Anthenaeum is down the road from museums and galleries, the chic-est shops and Theatreland, and just a few stops from the City, Soho and Canary Wharf. 

ABOUT ROCK TOWN DISTILLERY 

Rock Town Distillery produces the award winning Brandon’s Vodka, Brandon’s Gin, Arkansas Bourbon, Arkansas Hickory Smoked Whiskey, Arkansas Rye Whiskey, Arkansas Lightning, and Rock Town Vodka which are distributed in Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the United Kingdom. 

Rock Town Distillery, Arkansas’ first legal distillery since prohibition, is located in downtown Little Rock at 1216 E 6^th Street, Little Rock, AR 72202.  The distillery is open for tours 7 days a week. To find out more please visit http://www.rocktowndistillery.com/

www.ralfy.com talks about ships in bottles with Whisky Review 466 – Dimple 15yo Blended Scotch Whisky

The relationship continues with the Cutty Sark Clipper ship…

Having been originally named after the Cutty Sark Clipper ship, our two brands have always had a relatively close relationship.

After an extensive six-year conservation project, the Clipper was re-opened two years ago and is maintained by the Cutty Sark Trust as part of Royal Museums Greenwich. Much like our whisky brand, the Trust is constantly looking for ways to stand out from the other visitor attractions in London and has taken a pioneering approach to its marketing.

Several international sponsors, including ourselves (Cutty Sark), have supported the Trust to ensure the ship is open for visitors all year round.

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