What do you get when you mix two whisky enthusiasts that have a heart for charitable giving? You’d never guess so we shall tell you. A tour throughout all Scotland visiting every single malt producing distillery in the space of one month! A feat never attempted before or certainly not the way these two chaps are attempting it. The Whisky Warehouse Limited owners Mike Little and William Morin shall set off from Kirkwall in Orkney on June 30th for a 3000 mile journey ending at Gretna Green with every mile upon two 50cc scooters! The only support being provided by a man in a van and the gents shall be camping throughout the journey.

The question is why? Very simply Mike and William chose the ‘The Cystic Fibrosis Trust’ as their adopted charity through which their spirits retail business supports but they felt strongly that they could achieve so much more. ‘My cousin Nicole has suffered from this horrific disease from birth and I have always looked to do something meaningful for the charity but have never found the perfect option until now’ William says. Each distillery who join in with the tour have agreed to donate a bottle of their whisky signed by their managers which will go to a one off online auction which is being hosted by Mctear’s Auctioneers Glasgow. Visiting over 100 distilleries in such a short space of time seems impossible but both Mike and William believe they can do them all with time to spare! Every distillery will be visited during this historic event even with just a quick photograph for social media as we intend this record has been submitted to the Guinness World Records say’s Mike.

The spirited duo have approached every distillery in the country to support the venture and have so far had 62 pledge to donate a bottle. ‘We’ve got most onboard now but still waiting to hear an answer from a few more including Diageo if their brands can support this but we’re confident some will join in’ Says Mike. The boys aim to raise a minimum of £50,000 for the charity which supports over 10,000 Cystic Fibrosis patients in the uk and their families. The money raised will go towards the much needed research to beat the disease which results in those diagnosed with a much shorter life expectancy than those with a normal life.

Supporting the tour couldn’t be easier! Simply contact either Mike or William using the details underneath. Their Go Fund Me link is also below. The business has put up half of the costs to achieve the journey with the hope to raise the remaining £3000. You can follow the boys throughout their journey on their Twitter and Facebook pages, plus they will be uploading numerous video logs on YouTube with various tours of the distilleries and interviews with distillery managers.

http://www.gofundme.com/CFtrustScotland 

Mike Little: mike.little@twwltd.com 07703804663

William Morin: william.morin@twwltd.com 07547882197

EARLY JUNE TASTINGS & EVENTS

June Outturn Preview Members Tasting

The Vaults – Thu 4 June

Sample 5 drams with supper and get your bottles before they run out

More >

New Outturn Open Tasting

19 Greville Street – Sat 6 June

Try out five single cask whiskies from this month’s new list with cheese from Ian Mellis

More >

Steak & Whisky Tasting

19 Greville Street – Mon 8 June

Sample five whiskies from this month’s Outturn with delicious rib-eye steak

More >

Steak and Chips Sampling Session – ‘New Style’

28 Queen Street – Tue 9 June

NEW – Explore an even wider range of flavours with an unprecedented SEVEN sample drams

More >

Afternoon Whisky & Ice Cream Tasting

The Vaults – Sat 13 June

Sample the Society’s specially commissioned ice creams, created by S. Luca using our unique single cask whiskies

More >

Eats, Malt and Staves

19 Greville Street – Tue 16 June

Grab your anorak! If you want to learn about the production and general overview of Whisky this event is going satisfy your appetite

More >

FREE ENTERTAINMENT AT THE VAULTS

Big Screen Sport – Motherwell v. Rangers >  Sun 31 May

Monday Night drop-in: Islands & Campbeltown Lovers Night >  Mon 1 June

Leith Jazz Festival at The Vaults >  Sat 6 & Sun 7 June

Browse All Tastings >

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

ISLAND FIRST: MULTIMILLION-POUND WHISKY DISTILLERY PLANNED FOR ISLE OF RAASAY 

A tiny Hebridean island off the coast of Skye is set to become the location of Scotland’s newest distillery. 

The multimillion-pound Raasay Distillery and visitor experience centre will be independently owned & operated by R&B Distillers and hopes to open in January 2017, if planning permission is granted later this year. 

The development would become the island’s first legal distillery and is expected to generate employment for eleven of the island’s 120 residents.  

The creation of a state-of-the-art visitor experience centre and luxury accommodation – which will include the restoration of the island’s currently derelict Victorian hotel, Borodale House – is hoped to put Raasay on the map for whisky lovers around the globe.  

Driven by a desire to make ‘handcrafted whiskies of uncommon provenance’, R&B Distillers hope to release the first batch of Raasay whisky by 2020 and produce up to 150,000 bottles of whisky a year thereafter. 

Bill Dobbie – Scots entrepreneur and co-founder of online dating site ‘Cupid’ – and business partner Alasdair Day – who currently produces Tweeddale whisky – founded R&B Distillers in 2014. 

Managing Director, Alasdair Day, shared his excitement: 

“It’s incredible to think that there are still areas of Scotland completely ‘forgotten’ by whisky. 

“The Isle of Raasay is one of those unique locations and the perfect home for R&B Distillers to handcraft whiskies of uncommon provenance. 

“We’re now working hard to engineer a whisky destination unlike any other. From the magnificent views over to Skye, to experiencing craft distilling first hand, we can’t wait for visitors to discover our whiskies, the island and the community here on Raasay.” 

Following a pre-planning application that was submitted to Highlands & Islands Council in January 2015, R&B Distillers are currently undertaking a protected species audit for bats, otters and the Raasay vole.  

A wildlife report is expected at the end of August with a view to the full planning application being submitted by September. 

Around 12,000 people are expected to visit the Raasay Distillery in its first year, where tourists and whisky enthusiasts alike can witness the craft distilling process first hand. 

A private tasting room and public café bar will offer uninterrupted views of the Cuillin mountain range while five luxury en-suite rooms in the restored Borodale House will be exclusively available to members of the Distillery’s ‘Na Tùsairean’ club; Scots Gaelic for ‘the pioneers’. 

Plans are also afoot for R&B Distilers to open a distillery in the Scottish Borders; where the last whisky distillery closed over 150 years ago. 

NOTES 

R&B Distillers was co-founded in 2014 by Scots entrepreneur Bill Dobbie and whisky blender, Alasdair Day. 

Alasdair Day currently produces Tweeddale whisky – reproduced to the same recipe created by Day’s great-grandfather. 

An award-winning small batch, limited edition whisky, Tweeddale is a blend drawn from nine single casks. In keeping with the original blend, Tweeddale is not chill filtered, is bottled at 46% ABV and has pronounced sweet, sherry notes. 

Tweeddale is currently available in the UK, US, Canada, Singapore, the Netherlands and Taiwan. 

Bill Dobbie is the sole investor in the project. Further funding is currently being sought from a number of different grants organisations. 

The first batch of Raasay whisky is forecast to be ready by 2020 and is expected to be a three-year-old single malt with a lightly peated profile. 

In September 2015, R&B Distillers hope to release ‘Raasay While We Wait’. Blended from two highland whiskies from one distillery, it is hoped the whisky will be representative of the Raasay Single Malt due for release in 2020.

Ardbeg Perpetuum Distillery Edition Auction for Nepalese Earthquake Charity 

The money raised from the sale of this rare distillery-edition bottle will be donated to Nepal Police Hospital who are helping victims of the Great Earthquake of 25 April 2015. 

Ardbeg’s Bill Lumsden has created a whisky that has spent time in both bourbon and sherry casks to celebrate the distillery’s 200th anniversary. This limited-edition whisky is in short supply and much sought after. 

This is the Distillery Release, higher strength than the more easily findable general release, only available online or at the distillery, and bottled at a higher strength – 49.2% 

https://whisky.auction/auctions/lot/811

A TRIUMVIRATE OF BOURBONS

(AND WHEAT & RYE WHISKEYS)

We hinted last week that we had some interesting/Christmas-has-come-really-damn-early American whiskeys inbound. The great news is that they have now landed! Such is the calibre of these bottlings, that the mission we set our management team was to hold staff back from buying them before we could offer them to you guys!

Today we are offering the Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye (2014 edition), the Parker’s Heritage (8th Edition) Wheat Whiskey and the Abraham Bowman Double-Barrel Matured Bourbon. Please note we have extremely limited quantities of these whiskeys and they will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis by reply to this email.

In other news, if you didn’t get the chance to purchase the phenomenal 2010 George T Stagg we offered recently, we have held back just one bottle to be cracked at our inaugral Bootleggers and Bourbon tasting on the 29th June (£35 per ticket by reply to this email). We also have a rather smashing shipment of Weller Bourbons winging their way to us, including the 12 Year Old, the Old Antique and the Special Reserve. Plus, we have the Jefferson’s Ocean arriving soon too – keep an eye on our social media channels for more information!

Parker’s Heritage 8th Edition, Wheat Whiskey, 13 Years Old, 63.4%

A friend of the shop once said of the Bernheim wheat whiskey that, although it is great, it would be much improved by being bottled at cask-strength and with over 10 years of cask maturation – and that is exactly what has happened here. As it happens our friend was right on the money! The best way to describe the flavour of this whiskey is Pappy Van Winkle-esque. No it isn’t a Bourbon, but it perfectly captures the wheated nature of the Pappy and makes for a great drinking substitute. Oh – and it’s really rare… so quite similar then!

£89.95

Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey (2014), 64.6%

This Thomas H Handy hails from the 2014 release of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Expect big orange-y notes with heaps of wood spice and tangerine zest. This bad boy makes for the best Old Fashioned we’ve ever tried (if you’re feeling flush enough!). As with all Antique Collection releases, we rarely get parcels of this stuff beyond the annual release, so get it whilst you can!

£179.95

Abraham Bowman Double Barrel, 50%

We first tried the Bowman Brothers releases last year. These Bourbons are first distilled at Buffalo Trace in Kentucky before undergoing a second distillation in Virginia. We were taken aback by the balance and power of these Bourbons, and we were pretty chuffed to see this limited edition land in our outstreched palms. The Abraham Bowman offers notes of dark chocolate, cinder toffee and clove studded oranges.

£89.95

If you’re interested in a bottle please reply to angus@milroys.co.uk

NEW ARRIVALS

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml (ships like 1.5L due to bottle shape) ($59.99)

BACK IN STOCK

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($74.99)

• Glenmorangie 18 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere 140) ($99.99) Whisky Advocate: “43% abv. When compared to the 10 year old, this one’s richer, with darker fruit and more caramelized sweet notes, paired with accentuated dried wood spice, while the 10 year old is more vibrant and floral. Like the 10 year old, there’s good balance here. (Vol. 17, #2) ” K&L Notes: If I had to pick my favorite whisky from the LVMH line up, including all the Ardbeg expressions, I’d easily choose the 18 year old from Glenmorangie. It’s the best whisky they make for the price and everybody likes it: beginners, casual sippers, experts, whisky geeks. It’s so gentle, supple, rich, and full of flavor. The problem for me at K&L was getting a competitive price. Soft stone fruit, caramel, creme brulee, vanilla, all the way to the finish. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer).

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Smooth Ambler Yearling Bourbon 375ml – 8 available ($27.99).

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

This week Joe Ellis reviews Scallywag Speyside Blended Malt from Douglas Laing.

https://youtu.be/RdrryVyPyYc

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

16 INNOVATIVE STARTUPS WITH AMBITION TO CHANGE THE WORLD REVEALED

16 startups from across the globe with a mission to create positive change have been announced as finalists of The Venture. The forward-thinking businesses are competing to win a share of $1M in funding from Chivas Regal.

After receiving over 1,000 entries across five continents, Chivas Regal has selected a diverse shortlist of startups tackling a range of social and environmental issues; from a Colombian business using non-recyclable plastic and vegetable fibres to produce furniture, to a Japanese company developing a wireless field-monitoring system for farmers to assesses soil conditions and ultimately cut down on agricultural water waste. The 16 aspiring startups have been chosen to represent their local countries in The Venture global final for not only their potential to be profitable as a business, but also their ability to offer scalable and sustainable impact solutions.

Each finalist has a truly unique story to tell about the inspiration for their startup. David Gluckman, the founder of Lumkani, witnessed the devastating impact of shack fires in informal settlements in South Africa and decided to create an affordable fire detection device to mitigate the loss of life and property. Victoria Alonsoperez saw the impact foot and mouth disease had on the Uruguayan economy – creating poverty and unemployment – and made it her mission to develop a platform (Chipsafer) that would transform the way farmers monitor and care for their livestock.

From May 11^th to June 14^th, the finalists will go head to head in a public vote and compete for an initial share of $250,000 (from the $1 million fund). People from across the world can view the finalist profiles and vote for their favourite on The Venture website.

The competition will then culminate in San Francisco on July 24th when finalists will pitch for the remaining share of the $1 million fund in front of an expert global judging panel. Sonal Shah, former Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the White House under US President Barack Obama, is the latest judge to be announced alongside Adrian Grenier (actor, producer and social entrepreneur), Morgan Clendaniel (Editor of Fast Company’s Co.Exist) and Alex Ricard (Pernod Ricard Chairman and CEO).

Adrian Grenier commented: “As someone who is hugely invested in social enterprises, it’s really eye opening to see what other entrepreneurs around the globe are up to and the issues they’re attempting to tackle. We have uncovered 16 amazing finalists whose vision, passion and commitment to the greater good should be an inspiration to us all. I encourage everyone to find out more about them and their stories and get voting…they need your votes!”

Richard Black, Chivas Regal Global Brand Director, added: “Due to this being a global competition across five continents we’ve discovered an incredible collection of social entrepreneurs that are aiming to tackle a broad array of issues. As a brand we’re very proud to be putting a spotlight on these talented and driven business people and we can’t wait to see how the public respond with their votes.”

In the week leading up to The Venture Final Pitch, the finalists will attend an Accelerator Week in Silicon Valley, the epicentre of the start-up world, where they will receive mentorship from influential figures in social enterprise and companies such as venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Google, Duarte and IDEO.

To find out more and to vote for your finalist visit The Venture.

Notes:

The Venture
The Venture is Chivas’ global search to find and support the most promising aspiring social entrepreneurs who want to succeed whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others. With over $1 million in funding and resources, The Venture will enable social entrepreneurs from around the world realise their potential and gain exposure for their business.

Win the Right Way
Win the Right Way aims to inspire a new generation to achieve success whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others and is the latest instalment of Chivas Regal’s Live with Chivalry campaign, which launched in 2008.

Live with Chivalry
Chivas’ Live with Chivalry campaign launched in 2008 and has since inspired modern gentlemen in more than 60 countries around the world to succeed in the right way. Win the Right Way is the latest instalment of the Live with Chivalry campaign. It communicates Chivas Regal’s brand values, and aims to inspire a new generation to achieve success whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others.

About Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.6 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity, and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.

Our May auction is now live and ends on Monday 1^st June 2015!

View May Auction

This is an incredible auction with over 1,200 bottles available. We have a few highlights for you this month, starting with this highly collectible Black Bowmore, an icon of single malt history. 

This month’s curious rarity is this Glendronach 12 Year Old, bottled most likely during the 1940s, This iconic label first appeared during the prohibition era and at this point interestingly still reads ‘Most suitable for medicinal purposes’.

Japanese whisky is still booming, and this month we have a great poker hand of Hanyu, Including the super rare Ace of Spades. 

With Ardbeg day fast approaching we have a delightfully unusual old independent bottling, this is an Oloroso Butt matured 30 year old Ardbeg distilled in 1967…

Happy Ardbeg day indeed! 

Please remember!

There is no registration fee, our commission structure is very competitive and we offer worldwide shipping. For our terms and conditions please click here.

With over 15 years of experience in the whisky industry, Whisky Auctioneer specialises in auctioning whisky whether it be fine, old, rare, collectable or affordable. Formed in 2013 and based in Perth, central Scotland, we aim to be the most comprehensive website for the buying and selling of whisky online.

http://www.whiskyauctioneer.com/

Happy Bidding!

Scottish Field Whisky Challenge

We are delighted to be nominated in the category of Distillery Visitor Experience in this years Scottish Field Whisky Challenge.  Find out more about the awards and vote for us here