Written by Senior Brand Ambassador, Edrington. Martin Markvardsen. 

On the 2nd of July the Finnish Viking Raid came to Orkney. For over a year, a cooperation between The Finnish Whisky Association, the founder of the Finnish whisky Fair ” Uisge” (Mika Jansson), Paul McLean of mcleanscotland whisky tours and Edrington Finland, came together. Senior Brand Ambassador Martin Markvardsen welcomed them as arrived by coach on Orkney.  ” This trip for the Finnish whisky fans has been on it’s way for a long time. For the last couple of years Mika Jannson and I have talk about this. Highland Park is one one the favourite malts in Finland and every time I’m in Finland to do maste classes it’s always the first to be sold out”, tells Martin Markvardsen.

The group was welcomed at Highland Park Distillery by Patricia Retson, myself (Martin Markvardsen) and tour guide Martin Gray. They had  a fantastic tour around the distillery before the two Martins took them on a special tour round Orkney taking in Hobbister, Cliffs of Yesnaby and Skara Brae.  Martin Gray, gave the group the best insight of history and tales about Orkney whist acting as tour guide for the mcleanscotland group. A tasting was done in the cask room at the distillery, where the Finnish group also had a special guest with them; Jani Bergström a guitar builder and a true Highland Park fan. Graham Manson Highland Park Distillery Manager and Patricia were there when he handed over a new Valhalla banjolin…. LOKI .

It has been hard work especially from Edrington Finland to keep the interest for Highland Park growing. There will be a lot of special tastings in the future in Finland, and Highland Park will for be present at the next whisky fair in Helsinki, Finland.

Paul Mclean of MCLEAN SCOTLAND (working with Mika and Martin), arranged the distillery tour (the coach tour sold out in 60 seconds) and was really pleased at the result. Paul also invited Martin to be guest for dinner the previous evening, where they all shared a few good drams!  All in all, this trip went – as usual – very well.

SECONDARY TOUR

Angus and Perthshire whisky trip.

Sunday 5^th July; From Aberdeen, Mark (driver), Liz and Paul along with Club President Mika Jansson, took to the coach again. Heading for Broughty Ferry near Dundee. Mika was staying on a few days extra. As we arrived at Broughty Ferry, the coach parked up alongside Liz’s car, where we unloaded luggage and lots of whisky and beers left over.  We took Mika in to check in his luggage, then met up again a wee bit later for our journey to St Andrews. First stop the town itself for a quick look around and a dram at The Old Course hotel pub. Then a ten minute drive to visit Eden.Mill distillery/gin/brewery. A great tour here by Kevan (manager) with tastes, er – Mika tried all gins, new make and beers. From here back to his hotel (which was a pub) and drinkies with locals – until 2am!

Monday 6 July; Guess what? Aye, a late start, 10am, heading away to Pitlochry where we called in at Edradour. I saw Andrew in the car park, waved, he came over, we introduced Mika and in we went for a tour, while Mika took a tour Liz and myself chatted to Andrew for an hour. Mostly about whisky, distilleries, his plans for expansion etc, Mika returned for drams. Then it was away to Aberfeldy, where George took care of us personally. A great private tour and many drams, in fact he looked after us really well, myself and Mika having ten drams each to try, while Liz agreed to be driver. More whiskies bought then home. You guessed, food and more drinks flowed.

Tuesday 7 July; we drove Mika to Tullibardine distillery, another private tour and good long chat about all the new plans and extensions. Tastes of course! Then a half hour run to Doune where we took a private tour at Deanston distillery – and drams.  By now he was suitably impressed with Perthshire distilleries, we are aiming to get the group back next year, after Islay into Perth. Dropping him in Edinburgh to meet his wife and daughter.

Thursday 9 July; Dennis picked them up at Edinburgh for a day out in Perthshire, a good end.

Both tours set up and arranged by MCLEANSCOTLAND working with Mika of the Malt Whisky Association of Finland. Via our many contacts both tours were a huge success.

www.mcleanscotland.com

BARTON 1792 WINS GOLD MEDAL AT 2015 LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Aug. 5, 2015) – Barton 1792 Distillery’s namesake brand, 1792 Small Batch, was awarded a gold medal at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition for its exceptional taste profile.

The Distillery’s 1792 Small Batch bourbon was ranked among 365 spirits that were submitted from a total of 34 countries, and was ultimately awarded for demonstrating superior quality and taste.

“We feel honored to receive this gold for our 1792 Small Batch at the LAIWS,” Ken Pierce, director of distillation and quality assurance, said. “To have placed so well among all the excellent spirits entered is truly humbling.”

The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition was formed in 2007, with an esteemed panel of judges using a blind-tasting method to award medals to the best distilled spirits from around the world.  The award-winning entries will be displayed during the Los Angeles County Fair, Sept. 4 – 27, in “The Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace.”

Complete results of the 2012 LAIWSC are available at www.laspiritscomp.com.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands of Kentucky, with facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Bourbon whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This small batch Bourbon whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent Best of Category winner at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more about the distillery visit www.1792bourbon.com.

Just Whisky’s Auction ENDS TOMORROW at 8PM. The bidding on their biggest whisky auction yet ends at 8PM UK time. That means there’s just hours left to place your bids and secure the whisky you’re looking for. As a reminder, some of the auction highlights are below!

Ardbeg 1978 – 1997 Limited Edition

A 1978 Vintage Ardbeg non chill-filtered. This limited edition bottling is becoming very hard to find. Complete with box.

Mortlach 20 Years Old 1978 – Rare Malts

From the Diageo Rare Malts Selection, a very nice collectable bottle of Mortlach Single Malt. Bottled at natural cask strength in May 1998, this Limited Edition 20 years old whisky was distilled in 1978.

Bowmore 26 Years Old 1985 – 2012 Vintage Edition

This limited release Bowmore Vintage 1985 edition has been nurtured in hand-selected Sherry and Bourbon casks during its long maturation in the legendary Bowmore No.1 Vaults – The warehouses below sea-level. Bottled at cask strength and non-chill-filtered. Individually numbered with a certificate of authenticity presented in a premium feeling wooden box.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label – Year of the Ram Collection & Stand

Johnnie Walker has launched the second annual release of a collector’s edition to commemorate the thousands-year-old celebration of the Lunar New Year.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Ram limited edition marries the best of Chinese ceramic art with the very finest blended Scotch whisky. It is available in Asia Pacific (China, Australia, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong / Macau, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, South East Asia Travel Retail) and in the US. The artwork illustrates three rams standing in distinguished positions, a traditional reference to the Book of Changes signifying a New Year of great fortune. When four bottles are placed side by side, a single image unfolds— like a magnificent Chinese scroll painting.

Glenlivet Vintage Collection – 200ml x 5

A fantastic set from The Glenlivet Distillery which showcases five cask strength examples from their stock from years gone by. All bottled in 1998, the vintages start at 1967 then work their way to 1972. A really nice set encased in wooden display box.

Macallan 18 Years Old 1975

Distillery bottle of Macallan 18 years old. Matured in sherry wood casks distilled 1975 and bottled in 1994. A very collectable bottle.

Rosebank 22 Years Old 1981 – Rare Malts

From the Diageo Rare Malts Selection, a very nice collectable bottle from closed Rosebank distillery. Bottled at natural cask strength this Limited Edition 22 years old whisky was distilled in 1981. Bottled in April 2004.

Bidding ends at 8PM!

http://www.just-whisky.co.uk/

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

In their own words – George Grant, Director of Sales, Glenfarclas

Glenfarclas is a rare example of a Scottish distillery that is still in independent hands. I sat down with director of sales, George Grant, as the distillery celebrated 150 years of Grant family ownership.

George Grant in a typically shy and retiring pose for a Dutch advert

‘The big advantage to being family owned is that you have one person to ask the questions to and you can get an answer immediately. The negatives are you don’t have that team behind you, or that massive marketing budget.’

‘Being traditional leads to more innovation, we look at things on a longer-term basis, we’re very anti-finishing, but we still use other casks: port, Cognac, fino – there’s lots of different things we have done, and we’re still doing. We’ve just filled lots more quarter casks for the future. It is very long term.’

‘If we run out of one our age-statement bottlings, we pull it from the market until stocks get old enough again. There’s a lot of NAS whisky out there, but we would rather keep an age on the bottle.’

‘I drink beer during long tastings in Germany. People laugh at me, but I tell them if I drank the 12 whiskies I wouldn’t be able to stand and keep talking!’

‘The best thing about being a whisky drinker is you know what you’re going to get for birthdays, Christmas and Father’s Day.’

‘The non-Glenfarclas whisky I drink the most of is Johnnie Walker Black Label. It’s everywhere and you know exactly what you’re getting.’

‘Maltings are a bit like restaurants. If you ask for a medium steak and it arrives well done, you send it back. If you burn your steak at home, you just eat it. It’s best to use barley from someone who malts full time!’

‘If we need space, we just build another building. You have to consult any neighbours within a couple of miles, but we own all the buildings for three-and-a-half miles in all directions.’

‘The slowdown in blended whisky sales means some distilleries are down to five-day working (a reduction of 20% in production), which will have a big effect in output in the next 10-20 years.’

‘Germany is our biggest market and I enjoy going there to talk about whisky. You do a tasting in the UK, you have an hour; it’s 30 minutes in the USA. You do it in Germany and they expect a five-hour tasting! It’s very rewarding as they’ll all end up buying a bottle and they have so many questions, the audience really get involved.’

‘People are realising there’s an awful lot of good whisky out there that is 10, 15 or 20 years old. For a long time, people thought: “older, older, older” and we’ve had a generation that haven’t fully appreciated younger whiskies. I think people are going back to basics.’

‘The new 40 Year Old will be very limited. I wanted to do it at 46%, but sadly the cask strength was lower than that, so we’ll have to release it at 43%. There was no conspiracy to lower the strength.’

‘If we had an offer to sell, we wouldn’t. If you were losing money, you’d just stop producing to reduce costs and sell the 60 years’ worth of stock.’

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 1

This is the first ever batch of the Balvenie Tun 1509 single malt Scotch whisky, created by carefully hand selecting 42 of the finest casks – 35 traditional American oak barrels and seven European oak sherry butts – from the distillery’s precious aged stocks. Bottled at 47.1% volume.  We are down to our last few bottles – dont miss out on your last chance to buy this highly collectable whisky!

Only £250

LAPHROAIG 15 YEAR OLD 200TH ANNIVERSARY BOTTLING

This release celebrates the 200th anniversary of Laphroaig, this special limited edition bottling pays tribute to the original 15 year old, which to this day is one of Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell’s favourite ever expressions.

Only £75

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #9 Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 3 available ($999.99)

• Bowmore 22 Year Old Seagull Ceramic Bottle Islay Single Malt Scotch – 1 available ($999.99)

• 1981 Brora 19 Year Old Malt Cask Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($1,299.99)

• 1965 Macallan 17 Year Old Sherry Matured Single Highland Malt Scotch Whiskey 750ml – 1 available ($1,999.99)

• 1980 Macallan 18 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($999.99)

• 1979 Macallan Gran Reserva 18 Year Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $3000) – 2 available ($2,499.99)

• 1982 Macallan Gran Reserva Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($1,999.99)

• 1966 Springbank 30 year Local Barley Bourbon Barrel #470 Single Malt 750ml – 1 available ($2,999.99)

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

BENROMACH LAUNCHES COMPETITION TO FIND THE IDEAL DRAM DESTINATION

Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky is savoured the world over; from its spiritual home in Scotland to the sunny shores of Australia, The United States of America and beyond. To celebrate, the team at Benromach is on the hunt to find the perfect place to enjoy a dram of the award-winning classic Speyside single malt whisky.

To launch their campaign to find the ideal Benromach destination, the Benromach team is asking you to get involved in the #Benromachplaces competition. Share a picture of your favourite place to enjoy a dram, whether that’s with friends as you look out over the rolling Scottish hills, or on a beach with a glass in one hand and a book in the other, and upload to social media using the hashtag #Benromachplaces to be in with a chance of winning.

One lucky winner will not only see their dram destination chosen as the best place to enjoy a glass of Benromach, but they will also win an illustration of their winning image drawn by Scottish artist Jill Calder.

To put forward your special place to enjoy your favoured expression, and to be in with a chance of winning this exclusive prize, share your images on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #Benromachplaces.

Benromach Distillery Manager Keith Cruickshank said: “We have seen Benromach grow in popularity across the world year on year, and we are delighted to have customers as far afield as Canada and Australia. We love to see all of the pictures that are shared with us on social media of customers enjoying Benromach, and are looking forward to seeing many more throughout our #Benromachplaces competition.

“Jill Calder is an incredible illustrator and we are thrilled to partner with her to offer one lucky winner the chance to receive an illustration of their perfect dram destination. Everyone enjoys whisky in different ways, whether served straight, on the rocks, with water or in a whisky cocktail, and we are looking forward to finding out where people choose to enjoy their favourite serve.”

For more information on the campaign and to see existing entries please visit www.summerplaces.benromach.com.

Notes

Leading malt whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail is the owner of the Benromach Distillery Company Ltd. Established in 1898, the distillery was virtually derelict when the family-owned company bought it in 1993.

Following careful restoration and re-equipment, it was re-opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, Gordon & MacPhail decided to create a classic Speyside single malt – a style that draws its influence from pre-1960s Speyside whiskies.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A four star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world famous Malt Whisky Trail.

We’re in the dog days of summer and we have some hot little numbers in the August Outturn including treats from a closed distillery and Japan!

Enjoy the brief bottle notes below and visit http://www.smws.ca/ for the full tasting notes:

Cask No. 25.65  The whispered kiss 

22 years old; refill barrel; 50%; Light & delicate

A whispered kiss from a ghost. Delicate peach skins and apple blossom. Honey glaze on dainty cinnamon pastries. Musky perfume departments. Rose petals in a warehouse. Childhood memories evoked by tinned peaches, talcum powder, citronella candle.  A gentle earthy warmth hovered while silky fruit syrup lingered.

Cask No. 44.56  Sweet and sour creative tension

23 years old; refill hogshead; 51.8%; Juicy, oak & vanilla

The nose bursts with honey and vanilla – also barbecued ribs, lemon, wood-sap, grass, leather-bound books and sweet pipe tobacco. The palate intertwines chocolate muffins, crème brûlée, and toffee with stewed fruits, Haribo sours, orange and blueberry; all framed in pleasant wood.

Cask No. 35.119  An Alice in Wonderland dram

16 years old; 1st fill barrel; 57.7%; Spicy & sweet

An explosion of camphor, mint candies and golden syrup.  A crazy teaparty of ham baked in Coke, gingerbreads and then biscotti, macadamia, orange water and buttermilk icing. The panel were exhausted there was so much going on – had they fallen down the rabbit hole?

Cask No. 120.7  Sweet, fragrant and satisfying

14 years old; 1st fill bota corta; 55.5%; Deep, rich & dried fruits

The nose carries fragrant blossom and Pedro Ximenez as well as sweet rolling tobacco.  Espresso with lots of brown sugar was replaced by coffee cream dark chocolates.  To taste, we found kirsch cocktails with burnt orange skin, caraway seeds and teriyaki glaze.  “It has everything!”

Cask No. 23.73  The Vital Spark’s engine room

11 years old; refill barrel; 61.5%; Oily & coastal

A dry beach, then light medicinal scents and salt-water taffy; becomes more smoky with water. A sweet and salty taste with a whiff of smoke.

Cask No. 66.38  An Oriental barbecue

8 years old; refill barrel; 59.2%; Lightly peated

Crispy bacon, maple syrup and charred coal to begin with, then a soldering iron in the ‘everything else’ drawer.  The palate has teriyaki beef, black bean sauce and barbecue smoke.  Aniseed and lemon meringue pie when reduced and subdued sweet smoke.

http://www.smws.ca/