This week Joe Ellis reviews Timorous Beastie Blended Malt by Douglas Laing.

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CULT MALT PREPARES TO TOAST 200 YEARS OF ISLAY WHISKY ON ARDBEG DAY WITH NEW LIMITED EDITION PERPETUUM 

– LOYAL ARDBEG FANS PREPARE TO TAKE OVER THE VINYL FACTORY, SOHO FOR ARDBEG DAY 2015 

It has been 200 years since Ardbeg single malt whisky was first distilled on the Scottish island of Islay and 15 years since the legacy of this cult whisky was safeguarded by the foundation of the Ardbeg Committee.

The future of the distillery was guaranteed in 2000 when it formed one of the most passionate and devoted whisky fan clubs in the world with the creation of the Ardbeg Committee – to ensure “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today the Committee has 100,000 members in over 130 countries and Ardbeg Day has become a global annual event.

To mark these memorable events, at this year’s Ardbeg Day on 30th May 2015 with a ‘Past, Present and Future’ theme, committee members will have the opportunity to buy tickets (£199 per person)  to attend the celebratory London event held at The Vinyl Factory, commemorating the distillery’s bicentenary and be amongst the first to taste Perpetuum, the new limited edition.

Ardbeg Perpetuum is inspired by the many styles, ideas and quirks of fate which have influenced Ardbeg over time; it combines different styles, flavours, dreams and trials. Connoisseurs will taste a never-ending, rich and enticing combination of classic Ardbeggian notes and incredibly creamy flavours.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, said: “Ardbeg’s character has endured for 200 years and we hope it will continue for centuries to come. The 2015 Ardbeg Day anniversary bottling, Ardbeg Perpetuum, celebrates this milestone year with a recipe that includes some very old and young Ardbeg, silky Ardbeg from bourbon barrels and some spicy Ardbeg from sherry casks.  The resulting expression combines classic notes of dark chocolate and treacle with sea-spray, peat smoke, vanilla and a hint of sherry casks, to create an unforgettable single malt with an aftertaste that is never-ending.”

Ardbeg Perpetuum, launched for this bicentenary, will be available to purchase from 30th May 2015 at Ardbeg Embassies* for a two week exclusive period. From June 13^th, Perpetuum will be available at Ardbeg Embassies, Whisky specialists and department stores with a RSP of £84.99.

Ardbeg Perpetuum is non-chill filtered and is bottled at 47.4% ABV.

More details about Ardbeg Day and to purchase tickets to the event, please visit http://www.ardbeg.com/, where fans can also sign up to join the Ardbeg Committee. 

Notes to Editors: 

Tasting Notes:

Ardbeg Perpetuum is a deep amber-coloured single malt, containing the unmistakable Ardbeggian aroma of tar, soot and pine resin, with dark chocolate, treacle and sea-spray.  Its intense taste juxtaposes peat smoke and spice with creamy vanilla and milk chocolate notes, followed by a never-ending aftertaste of linseed oil, a hint of sherry cask, creosote and tar.

Ardbeg Day:

Every year, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music takes place in May or June on Ardbeg’s island home.  On the festival’s final Saturday, Ardbeg Day, the Distillery traditionally throws open its doors to welcome fans from all over the world.  In 2012 Ardbeg Day became a global event, enabling the whisky’s passionate international following to take part in a worldwide celebration of all things Ardbeg.  This year, Ardbeg Day celebrates the single malt’s 200th anniversary by looking forward to the next 200 years.  Fans of the whisky will be invited into a retro-futuristic version of Islay in 2215, where hover boards and robotic dogs are the norm at the Ardbeg Distillery.

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky.  Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.  Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction.  Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”.  Today there are over 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in more than 130 countries.  Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottling’s and expressions, and are offered exclusive Committee bottling’s.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee is free to join at www.ardbeg.com

Ardbeg Embassies*

You’re never far from an Ardbeg Embassy – the distillery’s homes from home. With the warmest of welcomes and the widest selection of Ardbeg, you can experience a little piece of Islay closer to home.

     The Vintage House, 42 Old Compton Street, London W1D4LR                       http://www.sohowhisky.com/

     Royal Mile Whiskies, 379 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PW                           http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/

     Cambridge Wine Merchants, 32 Bridge Street, Cambridge CB2 1UJ                http://www.cambridgewine.com/

     The Wee Dram, 5 Portland Square, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1HA http://www.weedram.co.uk/

     Luvians Bottle Shop, 93 Bonnygate, Cupar, Fife KY15 4LG                http://www.luvians.com/

     The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, London SE1 9BU                    http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/

     Gordon & MacPhail, 58-60 South Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1JY                    http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/

     Whiski Rooms Bistro, 4,6 & 7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LP             http://www.whiskirooms.co.uk/ 

Awards:

Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ three years in a row by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and was awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’ at the World Whiskies Awards 2013.  At the 2014 awards, Michael Heads of Ardbeg was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Our next whisky tasting will be on Wednesday 24th June and this time round you will have the opportunity to sample six excellent and diverse Japanese whiskies from the Nikka range, presented by Phil Nickson of Speciality Brands.

Set up by Masataka Taketsuru, the founding father of Japanese whisky, Nikka own both the Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries and these provide two different styles of whisky that are bottled not only as single malts but also in combination as vatted malts and in blends.  Miyagikyo distillery was designed to produce light, elegant, fruity and floral whiskies whereas Yoichi (which continues to operates traditional coal fired stills) produces a distinct rich, smoky, spicy and oily whisky.  We will taste both of these on the night along with two pure malts (i.e. vatted) which, because they contain varying proportions of the two single malts, have very different characteristics.  There will also be the fruity, zesty Coffey Grain to sample and the rich and robust Nikka from the Barrel blend.

The rapidly growing popularity of Japanese whiskies means that tickets for this event will go very quickly so make sure you don’t delay in booking yours!  If you do miss out on getting tickets then please contact us to register your interest as there is a possibility that we may be able to run a second night of this tasting.

Please note Tickets for the Nikka whisky tasting will be available to buy from 12 noon on Thursday 21st May and no bookings will be taken before this time.  The maximum number of people per booking is 6.

See below for all the details and if you have any queries just contact us.

Sláinte! Fran and Ken Arkwrights Whisky and Wines www.whiskyandwines.com

UPCOMING EVENT
Name Nikka Whisky Tasting
Date Wednesday 24th June 2015
Time 7.00 for 7.30pm
Venue Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren SN6 7SD

Details Admission to the tasting is by ticket only.  Tickets are £15 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting.  The whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared!

Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.  They are restricted to a maximum of 6 per booking and as these tastings usually sell out very quickly it is best to book as soon as the tickets are released.  To buy tickets just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com from 12 noon on Thursday 21st May and place an order for the number you require. Please note that tickets can not be reserved without payment and are non-refundable.

N.B. We have negotiated special rates at Stanton House Hotel for anyone who wants to stay overnight after the tasting – just quote ‘Arkwrights- whisky tasting’ when booking by ‘phone or email.

Ardbeg is celebrating its 200th Anniversary at a London event where guests will be taken through the past, present and future of the brand. The experience will consist of an immersive 3 course meal and paired with specially selected Ardbegs.

Tickets for the London event are now available to purchase here

The Vinyl Factory 30th May 2015 with two exclusive events – 12:30pm lunch and 7:30pm dinner

• Hosted by Brendan McCarron (head of Maturing Whisky Stocks).
• Tasting of special Ardbegs including the new Limited Edition, Ardbeg Perpetuum.
• Included in the price of each ticket is a unique bottle of Ardbeg Perpetuum engraved with Dr. Bill Lumsden’s and Brendan McCarron’s signatures to commemorate the occasion.
• There are 80 places per sitting. Tickets are now on sale at £200 each, and are limited to four tickets per person.

If you can’t join us you can purchase Ardbeg Perpetuum at The Whisky Shop from June 13th.

• Michel Couvreur K&L Exclusive Overaged Peated Malt Whisky 750ml ($89.99) The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that David and I had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This crazy Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the 60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of pinot noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself; selecting his own sherry butts to insure only the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away last year from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave this past Spring, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jawdropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: do NOT cut the hard wax seal, tap it so that it breaks)

• Nikka Coffey Still Japanese Grain Whisky 750ml ($62.99) Grain whisky is one of the least understood components of the whisky world. When you sip a blended Scotch like Johnnie Walker or Suntory’s Hibiki, you’re drinking a blend of two types of whisky — both single malt and grain — hence the term “blend” (many people assume the “blend” refers to the blend of various distilleries). While we’ve gone out of our way here at K&L to help our customers understand 100% malted barley single malt whisky, we’ve never really talked very much about grain whisky — mostly because there’s very little of it available! Grain whisky is made from corn, wheat, and unmalted barley on a continuous still — much like vodka is produced. The Coffey Still is a type of continuous still that can pump out grain whisky without having to alternate batches. Because of the efficiency and cheaper production cost, grain whisky has taken on a bit of a bad rap. This reputation is entirely undeserved, however, especially when delicious grain whisky like the new Nikka Coffey Still is available. This is classic grain whisky — round vanilla, hints of caramel, and an herbaceous, spicy note that brings some pop on the finish. NOTE: while grain whisky can be enjoyed on its own, I find it’s flavors are much more impressive on the rocks and when splashed with a bit of soda. The Nikka Coffey Still is perhaps the best grain whisky we’ve yet seen available on the American market. We need more whiskies like this! ASAP!

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

Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 

Inspired by this tradition, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label is a supremely rich and full-flavoured 18 year old Scotch Whisky, created for those truly special moments. Drawn from a limited number of casks, carefully chosen and retained throughout their maturation because of their exceptional character, it is an intense, smooth and subtly smoky blend, crafted from single malt and grain whiskies.

£93 BUY NOW

News release from Benromach Distillery Company Ltd 

Benromach 15 Years Old launched by leading Speyside distillery 

A notable new addition to the Benromach stable of classic Speyside single malt whiskies has gone on sale.

Benromach 15 Years Old has a distinctive golden amber colour thanks to long maturation in sherry and bourbon casks and a soft smokiness.

It tastes of luscious sherry and rich fruitcake with stewed plums and a hint of cocoa.

Launched by the Benromach Distillery Company Ltd, the 15 Years Old is available now with an RSP of £48.99 (prices may vary in export markets because of duty and import taxes).

As with all Benromach whiskies, the 15 Years Old is hand-crafted by just three distillers using the finest natural ingredients at the Forres distillery.

Benromach, in Forres, was bought over by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993 and carefully restored.

It was opened once again in 1998 by HRH Prince Charles and has since gained a reputation for producing an innovative range of distinctive Speyside whiskies with pre-1960s character.

Ewen Mackintosh, Chief Operating Officer of Gordon & MacPhail which owns the Benromach Distillery Company Ltd, said: “The Benromach story is a remarkable one, and the launch of the 15 Years Old marks a significant milestone in the distillery’s history.

“The whisky has a great deal of character and we hope it will appeal to whisky lovers who have tried other Benromach single malts and to those who would like to see what a classic pre-1960s Speyside malt is like.”

The packaging for Benromach 15 Years Old adopts the same design principles as the 10 Years Old, with the addition of gold effect detailing to highlight the premium nature of the product.

The bottle style and packaging reflects the hand-crafted character of the Benromach whiskies.

The elegant bottle’s neck and shoulder resembles the shape of the Benromach stills while the box, complete with embossed hand-drawn lettering, replicates their colour.  

Notes to Editors 

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.

Three fingers of whisky, three times a day. That was the daily regime for the Glengoyne workers for over 150 years – gathering in the canteen for a dram at nine o’clock, midday, and three o’clock.

Wonderful, certainly, for the seasoned workers – but a bit much for the younger ones. To save face, they’d take the first dram, then discretely pour the next two into a copper teapot on the windowsill. However, it certainly didn’t go to waste. Their older colleagues – veterans of the dram one and all – would intersperse official drams with unofficial “cups of tea”.

Only available at Glengoyne, the Teapot Dram IV has been lovingly recreated by men with a hazy recollection of those times.  Bottled at 58.7%, this batch of 3,178 bottles was created by marrying seven First Fill Sherry casks.

The casks have certainly done their job: the natural colour of dark mahogany, and packed with sweet treacle, soft oak and black pepper. It’s a treat, for sure, but it would be irresponsible of us to recommend the consumption of nine fingers’ worth by mid-afternoon. A little goes a long way.

Purchase the limited edition Teapot Dram IV >

Please note: We would love to ship the Teapot Dram worldwide, but due to restrictions, we are limited to the countries listed here.

* Maximum purchase of 6 bottles

Hello there!

Now that World Whisky Day 2015 is behind us I’d like to thank you on behalf of the whole team for your effort. This year we had a record number of events take place in more countries than ever before, and on, for the first time ever, all seven continents. The success of the day is all down to people like you running events big and small, so here’s to you for making such a good one.

Head over to http://worldwhiskyday.com/blog where you can read our report from the day. More importantly, though, I’d love to hear from you and learn about your own experiences on the day, so please do get back in touch with any comments, reports, pictures, reviews etc.

World Whisky Day 2016 is being held on Saturday 21 May, so be sure to keep the date in your diary. It’d be incredible to think that you could join us again for some more of the good stuff. What’s more, you don’t even have to wait another 365 days to get involve; our vision for World Whisky Day is to create an entire culture surrounding it throughout the year, and as part of this we have recently starting producing a weekly mail-out called Whisky Wednesday. If you’ve not done so already, visit http://worldwhiskyday.com/email where you can read the previous issues and sign-up for free.

Cant wait to welcome you on-board for some more adventures in the world of whisky.

All the best,

Malcolm Triggs

World Whisky Day

Saturday 16 May 2015

t: 0131 555 6494

w: http://www.worldwhiskyday.com/

NEW ARRIVALS

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Highland Park 13 Year Old Alexander Murray Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 4 available ($89.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Low Gap 2 Year Old Rye Whiskey 750ml – 10 available ($64.99)

• Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Colorado Whiskey 750ml ($74.99)

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