AUGUST OUTTURN: PROPER LUSH

August’s Outturn brings a luxurious bounty of juicy single casks with 15 new whiskies that are sure to make your mouth water. And taking advantage of the last few rays of sunshine, we’ve created some proper lush cocktails using 3 of our new whiskies. Try them at our Members’ Rooms this month, or have a go at re-creating them at home. Share your own whisky cocktail suggestions with fellow members at  #cocktailhour

Sweet, fruity & mellow

37.64 A real charmer £146.20

Spicy & sweet

7.115 Mojitos in a library £49.50

36.88 Fruitilicious!  £49.20

121.81 Intense, lively and delicious £49.20

Spicy & dry

39.110 Builders at breaktime £48.10

Deep, rich & dried fruits

58.15 Gravitas in a glass £85.50

Old & dignified

G1.13 Summer Fete and flower shows £124.10

Juicy, oak & vanilla

9.102 Gun cabinets and flying saucers £69.10

Oily & Coastal

4.209 The Cinderella cottage £76.00

66.67 An apothecary on a motorcycle £46.10

Lightly peated

93.64 Holidays at the beach £59.60

Peated

3.244 Film noir £72.90

53.225 Comfortably smoky*

29.166 ‘Elementary, my dear Watson’

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

August multi-buy whisky deals

We’ve been good to you over the past few months. We’ve had a run of competitions and special offers throughout the summer, and are finishing things up with a month of whisky multi-buy deals. We’ve put together two extensive ranges of whiskies to choose from, and if you buy a pair of bottles we’ll knock some money off.

First up we have more than 400 (as of writing – some might go out of stock over the month) great-value single malt Scotch whiskies – buy two and save £5. The range includes everything from must-haves like Laphroaig 10 Year Old and Tamdhu 10 Year Old to indie-bottled treats like Port Askaig 15 Year Old and our TWE-exclusive Highland Park 1999 by Signatory, and special-occasion drams like Lagavulin Distillers Edition and Old Pulteney 17 Year Old.

Our second offer is on a selection of almost 200 premium bottlings – buy two and save £15. We’ve got everything from old favourites, including Bowmore 18 Year Old and Balvenie 21 Year Old Port Wood, to more recent releases, like Octomore 07.1 (read more about it here) and Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d (read more about it here).

These two offers are on for the rest of August, so make sure you don’t miss out – whether you’re stocking up on everyday drams or picking up something special, now’s the perfect time.
Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – August multi-buy whisky deals

200 YEARS OF ARDBEG

ARDBEG PERPETUUM

We’re in the 200 year anniversary season on Islay right now, Laphroaig are wearing party hats, Lagavulin are gearing up for their bash next year, and as you may have guessed – Ardbeg are in full birthday mode as they celebrate their bicentennial this year. Of course no distillery birthday would be complete without a special bottling! Ardbeg have released the Perpetuum as their gift to Ardbeg lovers the world over. Luckily they were kind enough to send us some to offer to you guys. Get it while it’s hot, it won’t last long!

In addition to Ardbeg birthday presents, we teamed up with the chaps at Dramboree to sponsor their annual whisky festival. As part of this we bottled a cask of Caol Ila for them, and our resident illustrator designed the label. Thankfully we still have a few bottles left of this limited release which you can find below!

Ardbeg Perpetuum, 47.4%

This release from Ardbeg celebrates the 200th anniversary of their idiosyncratic Islay distillery. The nose conjures images of waves crashing into the Islay shoreline as hazy peat smoke rolls over the horizon. The palate is dominated by grapefruit zest followed by vanilla and black pepper. The finish is long and succulent with a distinct salinity and a warm smoky character.

£84.95

Ardbeg 1993, 21 Year Old, Mackillops Choice, 54.3%

A superb 21 year old Ardbeg from indie bottler Mackillop’s Choice. We don’t see many Ardbegs of this age these days, certainly not since the closure and reopening of the distillery in 1996. Expect notes of a beach bonfire, farmhouse vanilla icecream and sea water sodden peat! Delightful poise and balance.

was £375 now £300

Caol Ila For Dramboree, 2006, 53.2%

A special bottling just for the Dramboree festival! A more fruit driven style of Caol Ila (our favourite style), with stone fruit flavours complementing the ashy peatiness of the dram. Distilled in 2006 and bottled just before this year’s festival!

was £69.95 now£59.95

Bunnahabhain 1990, Samphire Beach, Wemyss Malts, 53.1%

This Bunnahabhain from Wemyss Malts is appropriately named! Truly coastal in character with a vegetal herbaciousness seeping through, Bunnahabhain as we like it!

£129.95

This week Joe Ellis gives a guide on How to Drink Whisky and Develop Your Palate.

https://youtu.be/PVWZVcDkQC0

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

Great Northern Distillery           

The Stills are Alive in Dundalk with completion of €10m whiskey distilling development  

30 million bottle a year capacity distillery is now producing new spirit

Additional 12 million bottle distillery will begin distillation by the end of August

Distillation expected to continue on site for another 100 years

Dundalk, 31 July 2015. The Great Northern Distillery (GND) has begun to distil in the first of two distilleries built on the former Harp Brewery site in Dundalk, Co. Louth.  The two new distilleries adapted and extended, at a cost of €10 million, the world class brewing facilities which existed on the site which had been brewing for 120 years up to 2014.

Following the investment by GND a 30 million bottle a year capacity three-column still grain whiskey distillery is now producing new spirit.  This will be casked in oak barrels and matured in bonded warehouses for at least three years before it can be called Irish whiskey.  A sister distillery on the site is being commissioned and will begin distillation by the end of August.  The second distillery has three large copper pots capable of distilling 12 million bottles a year of single malt and pot still whiskey.

The site, only the third grain distillery in the country, was identified as being most suitable to house the distillery due to a range of factors.  A dedicated water supply, perfect for distilling whiskey, is piped directly to the site from the Cooley Mountains.  Natural gas is delivered on site.  A sophisticated effluent control system feeds into the Dundalk Town sewerage system.  Excellent local engineering skills were available and a deep pool of skilled workers.  Some of the new employees, in what is a largely automated plant, are former Harp workers.

GND will supply a range of whiskies to the new Irish distilleries coming on stream and to the Retail Own Label and Private Label segments worldwide.  Irish whiskey is growing rapidly and is expected to double sales to 250 million bottles by 2024, still only a small fraction of Scotch sales.

As more and more international drinkers discover the superior qualities of Irish whiskey, mellow and smooth, the range of Irish whiskeys offered is expanding to serve different tastes.  The bulk of Irish sold will be a blend of grain and/or malt or pot still.  Most of the new distilleries under construction or consideration are pot still.  The owners will need a consistent supply of quality grain whiskey to blend with their premium malts and pot still whiskeys.  GND expects to be a major supplier to this market.

The second market for GND is Retail Own Label and Private Label whiskeys.  These will be mainly entry level and value labels not of interest to most of the new distilleries.  GND has the scale and the capacity to supply these markets on an international basis.

GND is owned by the Teeling family and two former directors of Cooley Distillery, Jim Finn and David Hynes

John Teeling co-founder of GND, commented “It is 95 years since the last whiskey stills went dark in Dundalk, where the Dundalk Distillery had operated since 1800.  It is 120 years since brewing started on what is now the Great Northern Distillery site.  Dundalk is a good town for business.  Good local skills, a good tradition of engineering, a pro-business council all combined with a strong project management team and a top class distiller.  We are reviving the whiskey tradition and continuing alcohol production on what is a wonderful site.  With fair winds, distillation will continue on the GND site for the next 100 years. 

Irish whiskey is on a roll – but from a tiny base.  When the Dundalk Distillery was set up in 1800 Irish whiskey was the dominant force in world markets.  Up to 1860 this strengthened to a position where Irish had about 60% of world sales and was sold all over the world.  Due to a combination of circumstances and poor management, Irish whiskey was virtually wiped out.  From hundreds of distilleries it fell to one in 1973.  The share of Irish in the world market fell to less than 2% of Scotch.  Even then it was mainly sold in Ireland as brands and aboard as Irish coffee. 

When the GND founders set up Cooley Distillery in 1987, it was the first new Irish whiskey distillery in 100 years.  It was a long road to success.  Now look at Irish whiskey, the fastest growing brown spirit in the world.  Most of the world’s major drinks companies are now in the sector.  There are 20 plus new distilleries in the works.  But, critically, Irish is now the drink of choice for 25-39 year olds, almost half of them female.  The revival is only in its infancy.  Irish is not available in most of the world.  Worldwide sales are about 10 million cases now.  The Indian market for whiskey is 350 million cases!!!  Carpe Diem. 

GND has an important role to play in the renaissance.  We know how to distil good whiskey.  Because of the size and automation of our distilleries we can supply at good prices.  We have the capacity to meet needs for a long time.”

FREE WHISKY TASTING 2.0

Carn Mor from Morrison Mackay!

You may well remember that we recently offered our very first free whisky tasting – needless to say it went down a storm. Since then we’ve been having a bit of a think here at Milroy’s of Soho, and we’ve decided to start a new tradition of free whisky tastings!

These events (totally free-of-charge) will only be offered every once-in-a-while and will never be offered more than a couple of days prior to the event, so respond quickly if you’d like a place!

Tickets are offered on a first-come-first-served basis by reply email. Please note that we only have a limited number of places, as such a guest may only block book up to four tickets, so as to give everyone the best chance to attend. Unlike our other events these tastings will be much more relaxed and informal.

Our second free whisky tasting is with independent bottler Morrison Mackay who bottle the ever brilliant Carn Mor Strictly Limited and Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask series. The event will take place this Wednesday (12th August 2015) at Milroy’s of Soho beginning at 18:30 and concluding at approximately 20:00.

We hope to see you there!

Milroy’s of Soho

Austin, Houston and Atlanta Events are months away and we’re excited to share a number of updates.

BON VIVANT HOUR
Sip, sample and pair VIP whiskeys with delectable bites created by Four Seasons Executive Chef Elmer Prambs during the new Bon Vivant hour. Open to only 90 guests, the Bon Vivant hour will offer a special tasting experience from 6-7pm to kick-off the evening.
$85 per person.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

MASTERCLASSES
Deepen your knowledge and appreciation of whiskies through our Masterclasses, 45-minute guided tastings of a variety of whisky expressions not sampled during the main event.

Angel’s Envy – Austin, Houston
Kyle Henderson, Louisville, KY
Divine inspiration painstakingly crafted into a sublime spirit defines Angel’s Envy and its award-winning expressions. Take a virtual tour of Angel’s Envy’s operations with Kyle Henderson, Grandson of the legendary Lincoln Henderson, known for his work with Old Forester and Woodford Reserve, and learn how tradition and craftsmanship are producing hand-blended batches of the finest bourbon.

Glenfiddich Finishes – Austin, Houston
David Allardice, Dallas, TX
Glenfiddich Single Malt, the World’s Most Awarded Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, is made with with extraordinary care and attention. Ranging from a signature 12-Year-Old expression to rare, vintage and limited edition bottles, Glenfiddich’s quality and consistency is a work of perfection. Join Glenfiddich Ambassador, David Allardice, on a journey through Glenfiddich years and flavor profiles while comparing bourbon cask, rum cask and Sherry cask finishes and learning what characteristics they contribute to the final product.

High West Whisky Science – Austin, Houston, Atlanta
David Perkins, Park City, UT
Biochemist turned distiller, David Perkins, Proprietor of High West Distillery, will lead guests through the ultimate whisky tasting experience, exploring multiple whiskey distillates to better understand whiskey definitions, cut points, yeast, mistakes, important chemical compounds in whiskey, and one of our weaknesses: whiskey and chocolate.

Cigar & Whisky Pairing – Austin, Houston
Charlie Guluzian, Austin, TX
There is a fine art to pairing exceptional cigars and whiskies. With its vanilla, caramel, oak and spice notes, whisky proves a perfect companion to smokes of medium and dark wrapper varieties. Join cigar expert, Charlie Guluzian of Bolivar Cigar Lounge, pairing seminar and panel discussion to highlight the marriage between smoke and whisky. Guests will receive a VIP cigar gift bag.

Cigar & Whisky Pairing – Atlanta
Gary Laden and Alan Friedman, Atlanta, GA
Smokingly entertaining and craftfully educational, Cigar Guys Radio Show hosts Gary Laden and Alan Friedman will explore the fundamentals of cigars and cigar and whisky pairings.

Craft Panel Discussion – Atlanta
American Spirit Whisky, Independent Distilling & Richland Rum, Atlanta, Decatur and Richland, GA.  Sip, sample and get the inside scoop on the craft spirits industry as three of Georgia’s leading craft distillers talk about the latest trends and products emerging on the market.

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Wood Management – Atlanta
David Blackmore
David Blackmore (Global Ambassador for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Single Malts) will be discussing the important factors that create Glenmorangie’s flavor profile. These factors include Tarlogie Spring Water, maturation, Dr. Bill and the tallest stills. Learn the fascinating art of wood management from the forest to the barrel. The detail of the process will astound you, the whisky will amaze you.

Also Johnnie Walker and Crown Royal Masterclasses.

Visit our website for a full list of classes and participating brands.

10% OFF Select Items
Use Code: AUGUST

Don’t miss this opportunity!

It’s ‘last call for alcohol’ on a few of our spirits, as we need to make room for exciting items that we will be bringing in this Fall. Below is a list of bottles we are closing out. To help do this, we’re offering our online customers an additional 10% Off the online price. Simply add AUGUST into the promo code section at check out. Please note that we have very few of these bottles left and this offer is ‘while supplies last’.

Offer valid until August 31st or until we run out. Tell a friend!

Cheers!
Jonathan & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
212-685-2442
jonathan@parkaveliquor.com
eric@parkaveliquor.com
www.parkaveliquor.com

The following items are ‘last call’.

Use the code AUGUST (all Caps) to receive a 10% discount when you order these items, while supplies last. Click on the name to see it on our site.

Prichard’s Tennessee Single Malt – $70
Catskill Whiskey Co. ‘Fearless’ Wheat Whiskey (375ml) – $43
Catskill Whiskey Co. ‘Defiant’ Rye (375ml) – $43
Namhias et Fils ‘Legs Diamond’ Unaged Rye – $32
Wasmund’s Un-aged Rye – $35
Wasmund’s Un-aged Single Malt – $45

Great Lakes Distillery: KinnicKinnic Whiskey – $50

Once again this offer is while supplies of each item listed lasts or the end of August – whichever comes first. Discount applies ONLY to listed items and CANNOT applied to any other bottles. We are not responsible for any typographical errors or the conspiracy against Jon Snow. Please contact the store with any questions.

TOMATIN 36 YEAR OLD BATCH 1

Tomatin 36 Year Old Batch 1, created from a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. Beautifully presented, only 800 bottles filled for this small batch release with each bottle individually numbered and accompanied with certificate.

£475.00

www.ralfy.com explores an overlooked lowlander malt with Whisky Review 548 – Glenkinchie 12yo @ 43% (re-reviewed 2015)