Malt Maniacs Awards 2015 – The Winners

This year (2015) sees the 13th edition of The Malt Maniacs Awards and once again we’ve seen some very strong competition throughout the three different categories for those prestigious awards.

Our three categories are based on high street price and are as follows:

Daily Drams – Whiskies with a retail price up to €50

Premium Whiskies – Whiskies with a retail price between €51 and €150

Ultra Premium Whiskies – Whiskies with a retail price over €150

Within each category we offer five Awards; Supreme Winner, Best Sherried Whisky, Best Peated Whisky, Best Natural Cask Whisky and a “Thumbs Up” Award for a whisky we believe deserves a special mention.

The competition is judged 100% blind, using only numbered samples and also judged only by a panel of our amateur members.

So, without further ado here are our deserving award winners for 2015:

Supreme Champion (Winner of Winners) Kavalan Solist (OB), Sherry Cask No. S060904024

Scoring an average 91 points across all our judges

Daily Drams category

Supreme Winner – TTL Nantou (OB for Aroma TW) Sherry Cask No.841 58%

Best Sherried Whisky – TTL Nantou “Omar” Sherry Cask No.21091305 58.4%

Best Peated Whisky – Lagavulin 16y OB 43%

Best Natural Cask Whisky – Nantou (OB) “Omar” Bourbon Cask No.11090105 56.8%

Thumbs Up – Edradour (OB) Ballechin 10y Bourbon & Oloroso Casks & Heavily Peated 46% (Awarded for great quality and solid performance from this small Independent distillery.)

Premium Whiskies category

Supreme Winner – Kavalan Solist (OB), Sherry Cask No. S060904024 (Also Supreme Champion)

Best Sherried Whisky – Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask No. S081229019 (OB for Asia Palate Assoc) 56.3%

Best Sherried Whisky – Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask No. S081229020 (OB for Asia Palate Assoc) 57.1%

(Both of these Kavalans scored an exact 90 points, drawing for the Best Sherried Premium Award)

Best Peated Whisky – Blackadder “Raw Cask” Peated Amrut Cask BA20/2015 62.1%

Best Natural Cask Whisky – Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu “Chibi Daru” 53.5%

Thumbs Up – Amrut (OB) Spectrum 50% (Awarded for ‘cask innovation’ for creating a finishing cask of 5 different woods)

Ultra Premium category

Supreme Winner – Glenfarclas (OB) “Family Casks” 19y Oloroso Casks 3913 & 3914 58.7%

Best Sherried Whisky – Macallan “Remix” (OB) Special Asian Release, 58.9%

Best Peated Whisky – Wilson & Morgan “Barrel Selection” Caol Ila 25y Casks 4707 & 4708 54.3%

Best Natural Cask Whisky –Adelphi “Slaney Malt” 23y Cask No.8585 59%

Thumbs Up – Overeem “Old Hobart” Cask OHD-074 60% (Awarded for outstanding performance of this and all Overeem whiskies this year).

In addition to our Awards we recognize quality with our Medals based upon the average attained scores across all our judges, with our coveted Gold Medals being given to any whisky achieving an average of 90 points or more.

This year four whiskies have won our coveted Gold Medals and they are:

Kavalan Solist (OB), Sherry Cask No. S060904024 91pts

Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask No. S081229019 (OB for Asia Palate Assoc) 90pts

Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask No. S081229020 (OB for Asia Palate Assoc) 90pts

Glenfarclas (OB) “Family Casks” 19y Oloroso Casks 3913 & 3914 90pts

Full details and scores for MMA 2015 can be found on the Malt Maniacs website http://www.maltmaniacs.net/

and

also our Malt Maniacs & Friends (MM&F) facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaltManiacs/

Tomintoul Five Decades Product Release December 2015

Tomintoul Distillery announces the release of a very special and unique product, The Five Decades, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Tomintoul Distillery, which started distilling in 1965. Individual casks have been chosen to represent the flavours from 50 years of craftsmanship at the distillery. Master Distiller, Robert Fleming, has personally selected casks from 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2005 and has overseen the marrying of these superb malt whiskies.

“This was a fascinating project. The reason why we chose these particular casks is that they represented unique flavour characteristics from the five decades and moreover when married together they have produced a product of great distinction. This creation is a one-off release to mark the occasion of Tomintoul’s 50th anniversary in a most fitting way. We hope you enjoy The Five Decades as much as we have enjoyed creating it.” – Duncan Baldwin, Regional Director.

The Five Decades Whiskies

1965-2005

1965 – Rare and special whisky from the very first year of distillation has been included in the Five Decades edition. This whisky was notable for its soft and sweet nose with hints of orange peel, fruit cake, glacé cherries and a suggestion of spice caressed with a pot pourri of rose petals and Turkish delight.

1975 – An exceptional summer also produced exceptional whisky at Tomintoul Distillery. The hand-picked casks from this notable year exuded great maturity with generous amounts of spice and vanilla on the nose and with discernible floral characteristics on the palate, most strikingly, those of summer fruits and pear drops.

1985 – This year faithfully represented the 1980’s decade. Cold winters and temperate summers were ideal for maturing casks of malt whisky. The selected casks were very typical of the Tomintoul style, light but with plenty of sweetness – truly living up to the “gentle dram” description.

1995 – To mark this decade and add rich and interesting flavours, first-rate Sherry butts were painstakingly chosen. The whisky which had enjoyed twenty years of maturation in butts previously used to mature Sherry in Southern Spain contributed raisin, plum, prune, orange zest and fig aromas on the nose with hazelnut, walnut, herbal and soft sherried notes on the palate.

2005 – In this year, newly distilled Tomintoul was filled into the very finest virgin American white-oak barrels to mature unhurriedly for the next ten years. This whisky imparted wonderful vanilla, honey-sweetness and coconut flavours backed by an oaky-spice finish.

Only 5230 individually numbered Five Decades bottles have been released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Tomintoul Distillery.

Tomintoul Five Decades – Tasting Notes

Colour: Barley gold

Nose: Classic Speyside creamy scents intermingle with hints of banana skin and peppery mace

Palate: Clean, creamy barley-malt and some toffee sweetness balanced by gentle oaky spice

Finish: Enduring with sweetness followed by a nutmeg finalé

The Tomintoul Five Decades is available now, packaged in cases of 4 x 70cl bottles with gift boxes and has been bottled, appropriately, at 50% vol., unchillfiltered and natural in colour.

Contact: Angus Dundee Distillers

20-21 Cato Street

London W1H 5JQ

Tel: 0207 569 2000

dbaldwin@angusdundee.co.uk

Glover – Adelphi Release – A Scottish and Japanese History

Keeping informed of the latest whisky releases can be a momentous effort with special editions hitting the market with a unique angle on an almost weekly basis. Marketing bods are masters of dragging a local legend or Gaelic into the spotlight and draping it across a bottle label.

Many are touted as limited editions without giving us a specific outturn number so if it’s not a single cask release or number specific you simply view these as not being truly limited.  Others do not warrant much interest due to fancy packaging or cask acing. The latest press releases are full of such examples, so for once it’s interesting to see a whisky that does tap into heritage and tries to bring it into today’s environment with relevance.

This whisky is simply known as The Glover. No, it isn’t named after the cop actor Danny, but in retrospect would be an ideal contender for a fanciful Hollywood epic except that it is based on fact. The man in question is Thomas Blake Glover who was the son of a Fraserburgh Coastguard Officer. A native of the North East of Scotland, Glover joined Jardine Matheson & Co after school; a company which had made its reputation in the Far East trading with China.

Posted to their Shanghai office in 1857 he was on the opposite side of the world far from Scotland. This secondment offered him the opportunity to take advantage of international pressures when Japan decided to end its period of Sakoku, or roughly translated as ‘locked country’. This transition began in 1853 when the anchored ships of Commodore Matthew Perry forced the Japanese to consider trade with the West. It was a forceful show of strength as these large warships possessed technology and weaponry beyond what the Japanese could muster in their defence.

The ending of Sakoku was not the final chapter in the political and culture changes that were sweeping across Japan. Rather it was only the opening salvo with the Meiji Restoration soon to follow in 1868. Many of the prime native instigators realised that Japan had fallen behind other countries and a new dawn with industrialisation at its heart was required. It was into this chaotic political and cultural environment that Glover found himself when he was posted to the Nagasaki office. For Glover the most immediate difficulty would have been the daily suspicion and resistance Westerners were viewed with at the time.

Starting with the prized commodity of green tea, Glover soon moved into other avenues including arms and ships which were in huge demand. He was so successful that he learned Japanese and set up as an independent merchant tapping into his family ship building connections. His dealings with important clan members soon provided important connections and helped him establish several leading ventures of the time. He also assisted the Samurai in overthrowing their Shogun and restoring the Emperor to the throne, prompting his nickname of the Scottish Samurai. His remarkable career was crowned when he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor and was the non-Japanese citizen to receive this honour. His house today in Nagasaki is a major tourist destination, overlooking the harbour it is the oldest Western style building in Japan. In essence Glove was a remarkable man who lived a remarkable life of which there is much more than just this brief summary.

How about the whisky? The obvious connection are the countries although Glover did establish the first major brewing company in Japan. The Glover has been released in two expressions both of which feature in this month’s auction. Both have been created by respected independent bottler Adelphi Distillery Ltd and we’ll tackle the most exclusive release in greater detail.

This luxury bottling represents the first blending of Japanese and Scottish whiskies. From Scotland 2 single casks from Longmorn and Glen Garioch distilleries were selected. Around 35% is from Longmorn distillery from an ex-sherry American hogshead and what is summarised as a ‘drop’ from Glen Garioch via a Spanish oak ex-sherry butt. This was done more as a homage to Glover’s original home in Fraserburgh rather than any distinct flavour profiling. The remainder of the blend which we can anticipate is over 50% from the information provided comes from a closed distillery in the form of Hanyu. Often overlooked, Hanyu distillery closed in 2000 and was dismantled in 2004. Whilst it does not enjoy the fanboy enthusiasm of Karuizawa distillery, I’ve never had a bad whisky from Hanyu. Today it is more widely known for the Playing Card series bottled by Ichiro Akuto that is increasingly sought after.

One thing is certain and that’s there aren’t many Hanyu casks left to be discovered, which makes the fact that the minds behind the Glover concept managed to obtain one even more remarkable. This refill sherry hogshead was shipped to the UK before being married with the Scottish whiskies to create this unique hybrid blend. Bottled at 53.1% strength and 22 years of age there are just 390 hand-numbered bottles. The other edition is more affordable yet still limited to a total batch of 1500 bottles and is 14 years of age and consists of Japanese and Scottish whiskies.

Check out the New Glover bottles on this week’s Just Whisky Auction.

Christmas Orders – Last Delivery Dates

While we ship globally, unfortunately it takes time and Christmas is fast approaching. We’ve talked long and hard with the companies who carry our parcels all over the world, and have come up with the following cut-off dates. If you order before them, your parcel should be with you before Christmas. If you order afterwards, then we’ll do our best, but we can’t guarantee it. You can find full details over on our delivery information page, but here are the dates ordered by country, in one easy to read list:

While our annual delivery of hand-selected Signatory single malts continues to provide some of the best bang-for-your-buck deals in the nation, don’t think we didn’t load a few premium casks onto our most recent container. We dug deep into the vast selection of barrels this past Spring to uncover two absolute gems: an ethereal, malt-driven stunner from Linkwood distillery, and a decadent, sherry-aged beauty from Glenlivet. Both represent some of the finest values you’ll find domestically for single malt whisky of this quality and maturity. Supplies are limited to quantity on hand.

1985 Linkwood 29 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($199.99)

Linkwood is one of the most iconic Speyside distilleries not typically sold as a stand-alone single malt, and for good reason: Diageo needs every drop for Johnnie Walker and the various other blends sold by the spirits giant. Linkwood is considered by most blenders to be the ideal canvas, loaded with fresh fruit flavors, a flutter of grassiness, and plenty of weight on the palate. While younger single malt expressions typically bottled by independent labels can be quite enjoyable and perfectly drinkable, they often lack depth and complexity in our opinion. What’s missing is age. Wouldn’t it be great to see how Linkwood tastes after three decades in wood? Now we finally can thanks to this incredible little cask we found tucked into the corner at the Signatory warehouse this year. This 29 year old Linkwood is pure Speyside heaven, loaded with rich vanilla and caramel aromas that tease you into a second and third nosing. The palate is soft and oily, much lighter than the nose would suggest, with a touch of that grassy element coming into play on the finish. This is textbook Highland whisky, a whisky for Glenlivet and Glenfiddich drinkers who enjoy the classic flavors of single malt Scotch whisky, but are looking for more nuance and depth–something more out of the ordinary. For serious aficionados, this is a screaming hot deal. The cask had proofed itself down under 50% naturally, so we knocked another $60 off the bottle price by choosing NOT to take it at “cask strength”.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 16, 2015

I think most single malt collectors have been trained to know two things in today’s market: really good, exciting new bottle of Scotch = $100; and really, really good exciting new limited edition Scotch = $400+. Yet, with a little practicality and some good luck, we managed to find a really, really, really great bottle of single barrel, limited edition Scotch for $199; something better than most $400 bottles we’ve tasted over the past few years. Part of the trick was choosing to bottle at 46% versus cask strength. We can shave a few bucks off that way, and the fact that this almost-30 year old cask had evaporated under 49% already made that decision easy. The other factor that most people overlook is the ex-hogshead barrel. Sherry butts in today’s market are expensive. Islay whisky is expensive. Underrated Highland distilleries aged in old hogsheads? Not all that expensive. So when you find the right one you can get a pretty incredible deal. This whisky is pure harmonic perfection. Soft, delicate fruit, creamy vanilla that will haunt you in your dreams, and perfect pitch of creamy malt that glides down your palate like silk. Compare this to any other $200 bottle in the store and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Your money is going 10x as far with this Linkwood. It’s a serious, serious bottle of whisky for a price that, in today’s market, seems circumspect.

NEW TO THE PARTY

Benromach – We reloaded on quite a few items from this esteemed Speyside distillery.

Glenrothes – A richer style than Benromach, and equally as delicious.

Cragganmore – Yet another Speyside distillery, but different in style than the two above. This whisky has a beautiful range and depth of flavors to captivate any scotch-loving palate.

THE RESERVE LIST

Whether you are in need of a gift for your father or mother, husband or wife, boss or client, check out these selections below for some of the best we have to offer.

Glenlivet 25 Year – $381.99

Glen Garioch 19 Year – $124.99

Springbank 19 Year Fresh Fill Bourbon Cask – $289.99

Gordon & MacPhail Highland Park 24 Year – $158.99

Longrow Red 12 Year Pinot Noir Barrel – $109.99

Balvenie Portwood 21 Year – $210.99

The Party Source, 95 Riviera Drive, Bellevue, KY 41073.

Port Charlotte 2007

Distilled at Bruichladdich. Single refill sherry butt bottled 2015, limited release of 480 bottles for the Cooper’s Choice new range.  Port Charlotte 2007 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whiskey distilled at Bruichladdich Distillery. Single refill sherry butt #2424 bottled 2015 by The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. for the Coopers Choice series. 480 bottles. Bruichladdich Distillery was established in 1881 on the Rhinns peninsular on the island of Islay close by the sandy bays of Loch Indaal. Bruichladdich Distillery re-opened in 2001 with much of the original Victorian equipment restored to working order. The first release of Bruichladdich’s new whisky was the highly acclaimed PC5, the first release in the limited Port Charlotte range. Bruichladdich  also produces very highly peated Octamore, Organic using Islay grown barley, and triple and quadruple distilled single malts whiskies. The Bruichladdich Distillery visitor centre welcomes visitors and offers distillery tours including the bottling hall, and the distillery participates in Feis Ile the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

Buy – $75.34

The Results…Soon….

Chivas Masters 2016 – Shanghai skyline

CHIVAS MASTERS STARTS SEARCH FOR TOP BARTENDING TALENTS THIS YEAR SUCCESS TASTES BETTER SHARED

THIS YEAR SUCCESS TASTES BETTER SHARED

Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky, has commenced the search for the 2016 Global Chivas Master, where competitors this year will be judged not only on their bartending abilities but also on their demonstration of Chivas’ values of brotherhood and generosity. This month sees national heats start around the world, which will for the first time culminate with the grand final in Shanghai in July 2016, celebrating success through teamwork, collaboration and mentorship.

The national stages will challenge entrants to recreate Chivas Regal’s journey across the globe. Taking inspiration from the classic cocktails of New York to the booming bars of Shanghai, via their local cocktail scene, entrants will be asked to create three drinks that enhance Chivas Regal’s smooth, generous style and epitomise its international appeal in order to reach the grand final.

The most talented competitor from each market will then be invited to spend five immersive days in Shanghai at the Chivas Masters Global Final, where they will undertake a number of key challenges following workshops from the industry’s best. Throughout five days of challenges and inspirational masterclasses, competitors will be judged on their bartending talent and ability to lead, mentor and inspire a team by a distinguished panel of industry experts.

Collaboration will be rewarded this year by granting a winning team at the Global Final a once in a lifetime trip to The Tales of the Cocktail 2016 in New Orleans to learn from some of the industry’s most renowned bartenders. A further prize will be awarded to the 2016 Global Chivas Master, who will earn a bespoke trip to one of the world’s most iconic bars in a city of their choice to create a signature Chivas cocktail as their lasting contribution to the global competition.

Max Warner, International Brand Ambassador for Chivas Regal comments: “Mentorship and collaboration are traits found at the heart of the bartending industry. We want to celebrate this spirit of camaraderie through the Chivas Masters 2016 competition by encouraging entrants to celebrate success with their peers. We will be looking for competitors who are able to demonstrate a true spirit of leadership as well as excellent bartending talent.”

Bartenders with the ambition to become the next Chivas Master are encouraged to get in touch with their local market Pernod Ricard representative for details on how to enter.

About Chivas Regal
Launched in 1909, Chivas Regal is the world’s first luxury whisky and is considered to be a timeless classic, renowned for its benchmark quality and taste, style, substance and exclusivity. A truly global brand, Chivas Regal has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide and today sells 4.5 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. With generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity at the heart of Chivas Regal, the brand launched its successful Win the Right Way campaign in 2014, which aims to inspire a new generation whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others. The Chivas Regal range includes Chivas 12, Chivas 18, Chivas 25 and the Global Travel Retail exclusive, Chivas Brothers Blend. In October 2014, Chivas Regal announced the addition of a fifth permanent expression in the Chivas Regal family, Chivas Regal Extra, a new blend with a unique richness derived from selective maturation in rare ex-sherry casks. In 2015, the iconic brand welcomed the pinnacle of the range with the introduction of the new ultra-prestige blend, Chivas Regal The Icon.  www.chivas.com

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; The Glenlivet, the world’s No.1 single malt whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch. www.chivasspirit.com @ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,558 million in 2014/15. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 80 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.  www.pernod-ricard.com

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert

By: Davin de Kergommeaux 

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert provides whisky lovers with comprehensive information explained in a most accessible manner. This well-illustrated book tells how whisky is made, why it tastes the way it does, the history of whisky making in Canada, in-depth descriptions of each of Canada’s whisky distilleries and tasting notes for over 100 Canadian whiskies.

As renowned whisky writer Dave Broom put it when the book was released, “This is an important time for Canadian whisky and this is an important book which isn’t just a story of a drink, but a story of Canada itself.”

Canadian whisky makers credit de Kergommeaux’s book with stimulating the current renaissance of their whisky. Since its release, sales of Canadian whisky have risen steadily as whisky lovers learn about the hidden wealth of great whisky made in Canada.

Davin de Kergommeaux is an independent whisky expert who has been writing about, talking about and teaching about whisky for more than a decade. His writing and tasting notes appear in Scotch Whisky Review, Whisky Advocate and on such websites as maltmaniacs.org and whiskyadvocate.com.  He is the Canadian editor for Whisky Magazine and publishes comprehensive notes about Canadian whisky on the website, canadianwhisky.org. De Kergommeaux appears at whisky festivals from coast to coast in Canada and abroad and is a judge in a number of prestigious whisky competitions including the World Whisky Awards. 

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert

By: Davin de Kergommeaux

Hardcover| 352 pages| McClelland & Stewart

Cooking – Beverages – Wine & Spirits; Cooking – Beverages; Cooking – Regional & Ethnic – Canadian

978-0-7710-2743-7| $24.99