Glendalough Distillery launches global brand film

Please view the new Glendalough brand film that showcases the history and origins of Irish Whiskey and our brand.  The film charts the history of distillation, which began in Irish monasteries in the 6^th century. Irish monks were the world’s first distillers, monks like St. Kevin – the man featured on every Glendalough bottle. The film tells the epic story of St. Kevin and the Glendalough monastic settlement he came to build.     Shot over three days in the Wicklow Mountains, the film was directed by Stephen Walsh and produced by Al Butler, post production was done in The Mill, London and it is voiced by singer songwriter Jerry Fish. You’ll see it on our site, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook over the coming days and weeks.

Sláinte,

The Glendalough Team

Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage Highland single malt Scotch whiskey. Matured in 2nd Fill Ex Bourbon Oak Barrels which previously held heavily peated malt whisky. This unique style of maturation has lent a gentle smokiness to this full bodied and robust vintage.

Nose: Tangy green apples wrapped up in a veil of wood smoke. Honey and Vanilla cut through the middle with a lemony top note and a faint floral accent.

Palate: Spicy and Peaty initially with light and sweet notes following soon after bringing to mind custard laced with runny toffee  developing into a touch of coconut, warm leather and bitter orange marmalade.

‘Hunter Laing & Co, The Sovereign, Caledonian Distillery 41 year old‘

Another fantastic rare lost whisky has landed with us here at TheWhiskyBarrel.com from our chums at Hunter Laing & Co. This latest treat is the appearance of a 41 year 1974 old single grain whisky from the Caledonian Distillery…..(please click here to read the remainder of the article)…

Benromach takes top prize in Hong Kong competition 

Benromach, creators of the classic Speyside Single Malt scotch whisky, have won one of Asia’s most prized accolades.

Benromach 100° Proof won the award for Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 15 Years and Under at this year’s Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.

The award was announced last week at a gala dinner to begin the 2015 Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair, one of the premier events in the Asian drinks industry.

Benromach’s flagship 10 Years Old also picked up a gold award in the competition, bringing its tally of gold awards this year so far to four.  The classic Speyside whisky, hand-crafted by just three distillers, secured “Big Gold” and the accolade of Spirit of the Year at the 2015 International Spirits Awards in Germany, a gold medal in the Scotch Whisky Masters competition run by the Spirits Business Magazine, and a gold medal at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition earlier this year.

Benromach 100° Proof is bottled at 57% vol with the classic Benromach style that draws its influence from Speyside whiskies of the pre-1960s.  It is an intense and richly complex whisky with sherry kicks, stewed fruit, beeswax polish, vanilla pods and delicate smoke.

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach, said: “Benromach continues to grow around the world and we’re delighted to be recognised by our industry peers. Our focus is on making our whisky the time honoured way and Benromach100° Proof very much reflects the way things used to be done, when the proof system was used to describe whiskies bottled at a higher strength.”

The Benromach Distillery Company Ltd produces a range of award winning expressions including Benromach 10 Years Old, Benromach Organic and Benromach Peat Smoke.

Sales of Benromach have grown rapidly and the whisky is now exported to more than 30 countries around the world.

Notes  

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when leading whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five year period before it was officially 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 Speyside whiskies pre-1960s.

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.

Benromach 100° Proof

Benromach 100° Proof is a 10 Years Old single malt whisky with a distinctive golden amber colour. Sherry aromas lead, followed by stewed apple, pear and vanilla, with toasted malt aromas complementing an underlying menthol edge. Notes of cracked black pepper with juicy fresh strawberry and raspberry lead on the tongue, with hints of orange peel and milk chocolate, combined with a delicate smoky finish.

Benromach 10 Years Old

Benromach 10 Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least 10 years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.

What is proof measurement?

The old measure of spirit strength – the proof – followed a tradition established when sceptical sailors, who wanted to ensure their rum rations had not been watered down, mixed spirit with gunpowder. If the mixture ignited, then its strength was “proved” and in Great Britain this was described as 100 degrees proof (100°), a value still used as the British definition, although the gunpowder test had been replaced by a gravity test. 100 degrees proof (100°) in the UK is equivalent to 57% alc/vol.

Jim Murray Awards 2016 “World Whisky of the Year” to Canada’s Crown Royal

One of the world’s most remote distilleries has been awarded World Whisky of the Year for the very first time.

The Gimli Distillery, which sits on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in central Canada, is the home to the Crown Royal brand. Which in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016, published today, has been given the coveted title of World Whisky of the Year with its special Northern Harvest Rye edition.

It is the first time a Canadian Whisky has won the top prize in the Whisky Bible in this, its thirteenth annual edition. Last year the whisky world was shaken when the award went to a Japanese single malt.

Whisky authority Jim Murray, who tasted over 1,000 new whiskies before making his announcement said: “Last year people were shocked when I gave Yamazaki the award – until they tasted it. Then they saw it was not the affront to Scotch they first thought and something truly extraordinary.

“This year, doubtless there will be many more eyebrows raised because rarely is Canada mentioned when it come to the world’s top whiskies. But, again, I have no doubt people finding the bottling I tasted will be blown away with this whisky’s uncompromising and unique beauty. It certainly puts the rye into Canadian rye.”

Although Canadian whisky is commonly known as rye, this new brand is one of only a handful which is actually made from near 100% rye grain. Most others are distilled from corn or wheat with rye and other flavourings added.

Said Mr Murray: “To be honest, I had been considering actually demoting Canadian whisky from having its own chapter in the Bible The quality of Canadian has been disappointing me for some time with too many non-whisky products, like fruit juice or wine, being added to give a softer flavour.

“Then Crown Royal Northern Harvest pops up out of nowhere and changes the game. I think other distillers out there have to have a close look at this and see if they can at least have a go at reaching where this new bar has been set. Otherwise the name of Canadian whisky will continue to decline against the high standards being set in other countries.”

In his Whisky Bible 2016 he gives Northern Harvest Rye a record-qualifying 97.5 out of 100 points and comments: “Rye, that most eloquent of grains, not just turning up to charm and enthral but to also take us through a routine which reaches new heights of beauty and complexity. To say this is a masterpiece is barely doing it justice.”

The Gimli Distillery in Manitoba was first visited by Mr Murray in the mid-1990s when he described it in his Complete Book of Whisky as being located “where the Prairies are at their Prairiest”. The warehouses each year sit under a foot of snow and the usual -18 temperature in January can sometimes plummet to -40. It is, quite literally, many hundreds of miles from its nearest fellow distillery.

Crown Royal’s Northern Harvest Rye made it a astonishing one-two for rye whisky, as it narrowly eclipsed Pikesville 100 proof Straight Rye from the Heaven Hill Distillery Kentucky for top spot. Third came another traditional whiskey, a pure pot still from Ireland – Midleton Dair Ghaelach. It is the first time an Irish whiskey has made one of the top three spots.

With Buffalo Trace’s William Larue Weller bourbon coming in fourth and Yamazaki Mizunara from Japan fifth, it is the second year running Scotland has missed out in a top five placing in the Whisky Bible.

NEWSDESK NOTES:

*   Other award winners: Scotch of the Year – Glenfarclas Family Cask 1957; European Whisky (Multiple casks) – English Whisky Co. Chapter 16; European Whisky (Single cask) – Kornog Taouarc’h Chwec’hved 14

*   Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible is available from Monday in all good book shops and online at whiskybible.com, priced £12.99.

*   The 2016 edition contains detailed taste notes for around 4,600 whiskies – including more than 1,000 new labels – all marked for nose, taste, finish and balance.       *

*   Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible has sold more than half a million copies in English language.

MS Calgary Whisky Festival Tickets Now On Sale 

Get em while their hot…    

Tickets are now on sale for the 5th Annual MS Calgary Whisky Festival. The event takes place at the Arts Commons (formerly Epcor Center) in the foyer of the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Thursday January 14, 2016. Last year’s event was a sell out with 500 tickets sold and excellent feedback from suppliers and participants alike. This year’s event is expected to grow to 600 participants, where we will be capping it moving forward. It is very important that we continue to offer the best possible quality of experience for our guests.

This 2016 event is expected to feature more than 200 whiskies from more than 70 distilleries around the world, mostly Scotland. Like the last two years events there will be three Master Classes (details to be announced in December) held during the evening as well as an early entry VIP Master Class with Dan Volway which will feature the full Highland Park Valhalla range: Thor, Loki, Freya and Odin. Participants with the VIP Master Class ticket will also get an extra 50 minutes in the festival room, after the tasting, before the rest of the participants arrive. As the VIP Master Class is limited to 40 participants we have also opened 60 VIP Early Admission Tickets which will give participants a full hour before the rest of the participants arrive. General admission will begin at 6:30PM and the event will run through 9:30PM. Tickets are now on sale on the www.calgarywhiskyfestival.com website, with the following available:

1. 40x         VIP Ticket with Highland Park Valhalla Masterclass – $150 (Master Class Starts at 5PM and will run for 40min)
2. 60X         VIP Ticket with 5:30 Entry – $125
3. 475x       General Admission Ticket – $99

Three 40 minute Master Classes running from 6:00-9:30PM will be announced in early December!

Tickets are available exclusively through www.calgarywhiskyfestival.com.

KWM Whisky Advent Calendar Update 

25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky, Now In-Store…   

Kensington Wine Market’s Whisky Advent Calendar is back! Last year’s calendar, our second and the first one we produced entirely in house, was a huge hit. It sold out  before it hit the shelves. This year’s is even better.  It still includes 24 x 50ml whiskies and a custom Glencarin whisky glass. But, that is not all! We are offering an even wider range of whiskies and we are also including an extra 25th bottle. As a special treat for Christmas morning, there will be a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask bottling. This is a rare treat indeed, and usually only available to Society members. All of this year’s whiskies are different from 2014 and we are really excited about the range. There are 23 single malts from Scotland, Ireland, India and Taiwan, as well as a boutique blend and a boutique blended malt. Whether it is for yourself or to give as a gift, we know it won’t disappoint. Don’t hesitate! This one is sure to sell out fast!

The calendars are now ready for pick and purchase in store. At the time of writing there are fewer that 50 of the 384 calendars produced left in store for purchase!

 Order the 2015 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar $400+GST

OUR EXCLUSIVE NEW KILCHOMAN SINGLE CASK 

The best new peaty whisky in the shop…    

In the 10 years since the distillery opened Kilchoman has made quite a name for itself. The distillery’s nearly flawless spirit and rigorous oak policy have ensured that their young whiskies can compete with the best in the world. Our previous three casks of whisky from this maverick Islay Distillery were all big hits and our 4th has just arrived. Distilled in 2010 and matured in an American Ex-Bourbon Barrel at 5 years of age it is another cracker! Only 221 hand numbered bottles are available at a cask strength of 60.4%.

Kilchoman 2010 KWM Bourbon Cask 440– 60.4% – 5 Year – ExBourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: fresh with big notes of marzipan, orange pith, toasty oak and sea salt caramel; underneath briny coastal notes begin mingling with tar and earthy smoke begin to develop; the are soft fruits too, Asian pear, honey dew melon and mango salsa; Palate: juicy, smoky and fruity there is immediately a lot going on: chewy malt, barley sugars; sea salt caramel, candied salmon and building earthy peat and dark spices; more Asian pear, mango salsa and a touch of melon, bright orange notes all atop a creamy base; the smoke is clean and firm but soft; sticky soft Panda brand licorice comes to the fore; Finish: refreshing, almost minty, with fading fruits, sugars, malt and smoke maritime flourishes; Comment: if you love peat, you are going to adore this one! – $140

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger! 

Contact & Disclaimers 

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change, don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Sláinte!

Andrew Ferguson

Manager & Scotchguy

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator

Ferguson’s Whisky Tours

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Each has been meticulously bottled and wax-dipped by hand, and is presented in a signature Last Drop Distillers leather case. Each case includes a generous 50ml miniature and a leather-bound booklet that with room for personal tasting notes as you explore this extremely rare single malt. Scored an impressive 96.5 points in the Jim Murray 2015 Whisky Bible!

This magnificent malt has matured with elegance. Heady notes of cognac-soaked fruitcake, marzipan and icing are balanced with ripe apricot and a hit of peaty smokiness, softening to a delicious vanilla and honey nectar.

Order Now £4,500

Scotland

Johnnie Walker 10 Year Old “Select Casks” Rye Cask Finish Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml  $49.99

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

Glenmorangie House announces final Whisky Weekend for 2015  

Glenmorangie House, the boutique hotel operated by the Glenmorangie Company, has announced the final date for its 2015 series of whisky weekends on the 20^th and 21^st of November.

Often hailed as the pinnacle of a whisky lover’s calendar, the Weekends are the perfect way to be introduced to whisky, its history and heritage, all enjoyed in the luxurious surroundings of Glenmorangie House.

A special part of the weekend will be a tasting of Glenmorangie ‘A Midwinter Night’s Dram’, a new UK only limited edition single malt whisky, crafted by Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Whisky Distilling & Creation at Glenmorangie.

This whisky is inspired by the long held tradition where The Men of Tain were treated with a special whisky in the festive season created by the Master Distiller as a thank you for their role in the creation of Glenmorangie. This gift was shared by the Men of Tain with friends and family from St Andrew’s Day to Christmas to Burns Night.

There is a full programme of events over this whisky weekend including a visit to the Cadboll Stone which was the inspiration for the Signet logo that you see on all Glenmorangie products.

Rooms start at £900 for double occupancy and include all activities, tastings, dinner on Friday and Saturday, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday and Lunch on Saturday.

NOTES:

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create “unnecessarily well-made whiskies”.

Glenmorangie House:

Glenmorangie House is the highland home of the Glenmorangie Company, based on the shores of the Cromarty peninsula, only 20 minutes from the distillery at Tain. Once a 17th Century mansion of some note, this exclusive and beautiful hotel has retained many of the period features from the original building and has been fused with modern amenities throughout to please the 21st Century traveller. Each and every guest room has luxurious furnishings and many enjoy views over the fantastic local countryside. Glenmorangie House is presented as your home away from home with guests joining together for dinner “as one” in the elegant dining room.

Responsible Drinking:

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

Full Itinerary:

Friday:

• Home-made afternoon tea on arrival
• A Sensory Whisky Session to awaken your senses
• Pre-dinner canapés, and a whisky serve sampling
• 3 course Highland dinner followed by coffee and Petit Fours
• Overnight accommodation in one of our luxurious bedrooms 

Saturday:

• Full traditional Scottish breakfast
• Personal tour of Glenmorangie Distillery
• Visit to Tarlogie Springs to sample the source of the rich mineral water used for the whisky
• View the Cadboll stone: the inspiration behind the emblem on each bottle of Glenmorangie
• Tasting of Glenmorangie Midwinter Night’s Dram (a limited edition UK only expression)
• Lunch at Glenmorangie House
• Clay pigeon shoot
• Home-made traditional afternoon tea
• Blind tasting
• The fabulous Signet tasting – this is quite a whisky experience!
• Pre-dinner canapés
• 4 course Gala Scottish Dinner followed by coffee & Petit Fours

Sunday

• Full traditional Scottish breakfast

Famous For Making Ours Yours This Christmas at Selfridges

This Christmas, shoppers visiting Selfridges will have a unique opportunity to make their loved ones famous by gifting a personalised bottle of the UK’s favourite whisky, The Famous Grouse. This timeless keepsake is the perfect gift for your loved ones or for marking a special occasion you shared together.

Following the release of The Famous Grouse’s new look premium packaging the personalisation service will be available exclusively from 30 October in Selfridges, Birmingham; and from 7 November in Selfridges stores in Manchester and London. Shoppers who purchase a bottle of The Famous Grouse will receive a free personalised label, printed live in store and added to their bottle – instantly transforming it into a perfect memento.

Behind the label is also something special. The Famous Grouse is a blend of the finest scotch whiskies, expertly married and matured in seasoned oak casks for a rich, sweet, well-rounded whisky, and is a perfect ingredient for quality drinks at home.

For a winter warmer, shoppers can try creating The Famous Hot Toddy. Take 50ml of The Famous Grouse, one teaspoon of honey, a squeeze of lemon juice, a spiced tea bag such as apple and cinnamon and top with hot water. Please note each Hot Toddy contains 2 units of alcohol and the tea bag should be removed before drinking. The Famous Grouse will be sold in Selfridges for £27.99 for 70cl bottle and the label is free of charge.

Notes

The Famous Grouse (http://www.thefamousgrouse.com/)

• The Famous Grouse is the no. 1 whisky in UK and no. 4* standard blended whisky worldwide (*IWSR data 2014).
• The Famous Grouse has been the best-selling whisky in the home of Scotch whisky, Scotland since 1980
• The Famous Grouse is exported to over 100 countries.
• Created in 1896 by founder Matthew Gloag, it was originally called The Grouse Brand.
• The brand became so popular that on August 12^th 1905 it was renamed The Famous Grouse.

The Famous Grouse Experience is located at Scotland’s oldest working distillery – Glenturret. Originally established as a single malt distillery in 1775, today The Famous Grouse Experience is the most visited distillery in Scotland.(www.thefamousgrouse.com/experience