GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES THE HIELAN’, A REMARKABLE 8 YEARS OLD SINGLE MALT

AWARD-WINNING GlenDronach is today (May 28, 2015) proud to launch The Hielan’, a stunning new 8 years old Highland single malt from its Forgue, Aberdeenshire, distillery.

This innovative expression, specially selected by Master Blender Billy Walker to complement the distillery’s burgeoning range of outstanding malts, has been lovingly matured and married in a combination of the finest bourbon and sherry casks.

The intriguing name is a heartfelt tip of the hat to the extraordinary Forgue distillery, GlenDronach’s spiritual home in the Highlands and one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries. Founded in 1826 by the inventor, pioneer and entrepreneur James Allardice to produce “the guid GlenDronach”, it has been instrumental in creating some of the world’s finest richly sherried malts.

The 8 years-old The Hielan’ is a phenomenal, fragrant whisky, redolent of spices, sultanas, raisins, butterscotch and sweet sherry. Billy Walker’s tasting notes show this remarkable expression, at 46% vol, is set to become yet another stellar GlenDronach.

Appearance: Amber with a burnished copper glow.

Nose: Rounded waves of orange blossom and a citrus twist flow over buttery, golden sultanas, sundried raisins and ripe yellow plums, all dusted with a touch of vanilla.

Palate: Crisp, vibrant oak spices warm soaked sultanas, apricot jam and gingerbread; all rounded by delicate hints of butterscotch, cocoa and toasted almonds.

Finish: Classic sherry overtones with a contrasting crisp dimension demonstrate the complexity of the traditional Highland character.

GlenDronach’s selection of malts ranges from twelve years through fifteen, eighteen, twenty-one and twenty-four to the Recherché at 44 years old, but there was a gap in the market for an 8 years old to lead into the portfolio.

Its sweet, creamy taste and classic sherry signature tell you immediately it is a very fine GlenDronach, a rich and immensely satisfying dram which delivers in the mouth exactly what it promises on the nose.

For more information, go to http://www.glendronachdistillery.co.uk/

ANOTHER JAPANESE MASTERCLASS!!!

Last year we had one hell of a relaxed, unique, never ever ever ever done before Japanese masterclass. The biggest and the smallest distillery in Japan battled in one steaming Masterclass. It became one of last year’s highlights.

This year we are back with yet again an already legendary Japanese Masterclass. We proudly present the ” Shinshu MARS distillery Masterclass” hosted by Japanese Whisky, pop culture, and Japan in general expert: Niels Viveen!

We expect that you can book your Masterclasses in July. Of course only people with a Maltstock ticket can book Masterclasses.
So if you haven’t done so, don’t wait any longer. You will feel more relaxed with a Maltstock ticket.

BILLY ABBOTT – WHISKY EXCHANGE

Billy Abbott from the Whisky Exchange and Speciality Drinks will host one of the Masterclasses.

He will present some really nice expressions from their new range.

We are looking forward to these great masterclasses!! Buy one of the last available tickets. See you at Maltstock

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TICKETS!

We are running out of tickets! Please if you want to come to Maltstock be sure and go to our webshop fast.

Buy your ticket at our ticketshop
Be sure you buy your tickets soon, so you can look forward to going to Maltstock in a very relaxed way.

http://www.maltstock.com

Cabins
The cabins were a great success last year! This year, we sold them out within weeks.

Agenda:
25-06-2015, Blauwe Druif Nijmegen – Sietse Offringa Tasting

TO THE INTERNET AND BEYOND!

OUR WEB STORE IS NOW LIVE AND ACTIVE!

We’ve undergone somewhat of an evolution here at Milroy’s this year. When we re-opened in February we were a bricks-and-mortar-store only (admittedly with two magnificiently reviewed bars), before long we were taking mail orders by telephone, then, in a controversial move into the future, by email (who’d have thought!?). Now, begin the drum roll and cue a brass band fanfare, our online shop is now open for business! Finally, you can browse all of the fantastic whiskies and spirits we stock from the comfort of your sofa/office/BT-Openzone wifi spot…

We’ll be adding lots of new exciting products to the website over the next couple of months, not to mention a full list of our tasting events for the rest of the year later this week.

To top it all off we are offering next day delivery for all UK orders (if ordered before 16:00) so you can get your hands on that whisk(e)y a little bit quicker.

Below are a few whisky classics selected by our shop staff to get you started. As always keep an eye on your emails for all your release news and more!

STAFF PICKS

Arran Amarone Cask Finish, 46%

There isn’t much not love about the Arran Malt. This distillery opened in 1995 and has gone on to produce one of Scotland’s finest single malt whiskies. This expression spends the final months of its maturation in amarone wine casks. Amarone is a wine made from semi-dried grapes, the effect that these casks have on the whisky is to give it notes of chocolate coated raisins and freshly picked cherries. The whisky also takes on a rosé-like hue. This is a great drinking whisky for the summer when the heavier malts are less appealing! £39.95

Glendronach 12 Year Old, 43%

We often say that it’s compulsory to enjoy Glendronach to work at Milroy’s, this is largely because it always works its way into staff top ten lists – as contractual obligations go it could be a whole lot worse! The 15 Year Old often steals the limelight but the 12 Year Old has a delightfully soft mouthfeel without compromising on that trademark, rich, Glendronach character. £34.75

High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey, 46%

Before the recent surge in interest in Bourbon and rye whiskey High West was perhaps a lesser known brand. At the first American whiskey tasting we hosted, we cracked a bottle of this Utah blended rye whiskey open, fast forward a couple of years and it was one of our best selling products. This is rye-to-the-max with near perfect balance, no doubt thanks to the skills of High West’s master blender. High West is also a regular ingredient in the cocktails in The Vault beneath us for the mixologists amongst you! £51.50

2ND AUCTION ENDS TODAY!

The latest auction at whisky.auction ends tomorrow from 7.30pm, so if you haven’t looked at the wide range of whiskies available, don’t miss your chance. To make it easier for bidders, each category has a different end time – this is a great way of simplifying placing your final bids, without having to bid on multiple items in a rush. These are the closing times for each category:

• 7.30pm – Books, jugs, memorabilia and miniatures
• 7.40pm – American, blends, grains, Irish, other whisky and fine spirits
• 7.50pm – Japanese
• 8pm – Islands
• 8.10pm – Lowland
• 8.20pm – Highland
• 8.30pm – Speyside
• 8.40pm – Campbeltown
• 8.50pm – Islay

Highlights from the current whisky.auction:

• Johnnie Walker Celebration Blend 1805 – currently leading the auction, with many Japanese whiskies hot on its heels
• there are plenty of Port Ellen bottles, with some at low prices
• from Highland Park, we have the 40 Year Old and a 1957 Berry Bros & Rudd bottling
• don’t miss out on The Macallan, and the American whiskey selection
• plenty of miniatures, available including The Macallan in Linley Miniatures Trinket Box, Glenfarclas Coronation 1953 and the extended old blends selection
• finally, if you’re looking for everyday drinking whiskies, we have many releases from the 1980s – a great opportunity to explore a style of whisky that is hard to find.

Our next auction will start on Monday 29 June – If you have bottles to sell, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Isle of Arran Distillery Reveals Online Community Selected Bottling

The Isle of Arran Distillery has today announced the release of its first White Stag bottling. Chosen by a panel comprised of White Stag members, only 214 bottles are available worldwide.

In January of this year, a panel of White Stag members gathered in Oran Mor in Glasgow to taste five cask samples. The 10 members of the panel selected the cask without any input from the Distillery team, with their comments forming the tasting notes for the malt. After a spirited evening, the Sherry Hogshead 97/737 was selected. Turning 18 Years old on the 23^rd May, this first White Stag bottling will be available online from the 15^th June.

The tasting notes for this Single Malt promise an enticing dram: A warm and buttery nose with a subtle pear note, nuances of vanilla, marzipan and apricots lead to a smooth palate of chocolate mousse and toasted marshmallows. With a deep finish of chilli and dark chocolate, this complex dram enjoys the Arran hallmarks of citrus and honey making for a strong and rounded experience enhanced by few drops of water.

The White Stags are an online community open to all lovers of the Isle of Arran’s unique single malts. Free to sign up, it has become a thriving online forum with members travelling across the world to meet up for tastings and events. Members also receive the quarterly White Stage Gazette and access to password protected pages with extra tasting notes and advance previews on all Isle of Arran bottlings.

In order to get their hands on a bottle of this exclusive release, whisky fans will need to join the White Stag club online where they will find the coupon code needed to complete check out in the Arran Whisky shop. The bottling will not be available anywhere else. It arrives just as the White Stag club is re-launched with a new logo and calendar of events.

Retailing at £95, and with the bottle proudly emblazoned with the names of those who selected it, the distillery hope for this to be the first of many White Stag bottlings inspired but their dedicated and passionate community. Demand is expected to be high.

To join the White Stag community, go to http://www.arranwhisky.com/stag  .

Notes to editors:

For more information visit http://www.arranwhisky.com/

* Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year-old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.

www.ralfy.com ruffles a few feathers with Whisky Review 538 – J & B 12yo Pure Malt Scotch

JUNE PREVIEWS: DARK, SMOULDERING INTENSITY

‘Viscous and weighty’, ‘dark and smouldering’ – or perhaps you fancy a dram with ‘an entire meal on one plate?’ Today’s previews are deep, intense and rich with vibrant flavours we can’t get enough of. Judging by the popularity of our special Feis Ile bottling, neither can you! It’s been a smash on Islay this week and the wait is nearly over on the mainland too: get yours from 9am tomorrow, if you’re quick…

Peated

3.243

Dark, smouldering flamenco gypsy

£80.00

The nose contains sherry, smoke, dates, figs, roasted chestnuts, Christmas spices, egg custard, maple-glazed pork and wellies by a dying bonfire. The palate, with meats roasting over embers, toasted almonds, toffee, coffee, chocolate and oloroso, has a smouldering flamenco gypsy personality.17 years old Refill ex-sherry butt. One bottle per member available by phone only from 9am, Friday 29 May. (0131 555 2929 9am-4.45pm)

Old & dignified

7.117

Mouth-coating, viscous and weighty

£101.60

The nose is interesting, earthy and attractive – peanut cookies, garibaldis, pumpkin seed oil, stroop waffles, cinder toffee and something slightly medicinal. The palate has a weighty, mouth-coating presence (manuka, malt extract, caramel, ginger, coconut) but also watermelon, apple and citrus zing. 24 years old.  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

Spicy & sweet

121.78

Dinner time!

£49.20

This dram has a sweet-savoury duality. On the nose, brown sugar-glazed ham and sticky toffee pudding. On the palate, roast beef gravy and honey-roasted parsnips with Danish pastries and marshmallows. The palate also provides pleasant spice (cinnamon toast, sweet chilli crisps). 15 years old. Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

Browse New Outturn >
Browse All Bottlings >

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

Longrow 18 Year Old 2015 Edition

New 2015 edition of the peated Campbeltown spirit distilled at Springbank. As always this is a very limited annual release!

Longrow 18 Year Old $107.70

We would like to let you know that our Timed Online Whisky Auction is now live.  You can sign up to bid and view the catalogue at HERE 

There is a great selection of whisky for all you collectors and imbibers out there so get online and register now. The sale finishes at 7pm on Thursday 4^th June so good luck and get bidding!

Sláinte

Stewart Smith

Whisky Specialist