Glenglassaugh 40 Year Old Batch 2 Cask #2180

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

JANUARY TASTINGS AND EVENTS

Burger & Whisky Tasting – 28 Queen Street, Thu 14 Jan   More >

Steak & Chips Tasting – The Vaults, Fri 15 Jan   More >

FREE Poker Night – The Vaults, Mon 18 Jan   More >

Whisky and Italian Delicatessen – 19 Greville Street, Tue 19 Jan   More > 

BURNS TASTINGS & SUPPERS

Aberdeen – The Caledonian Hotel, Thu 21 Jan   More >

Aberdeen – The Caledonian Hotel, Fri 22 Jan   More >

Dunfermline – Garvock House Hotel, Fri 22 Jan   More >

Glasgow Burns Tasting – Radisson Blu Hotel, Fri 22 Jan  More >

Cambridge – Best Western Plus, The Gonville Hotel, Fri 22 Jan   More >

Burns Tasting & Supper – The Vaults, Fri 22 Jan   More >

Burns Tasting & Supper – 19 Greville Street, Mon 25 Jan   More >

Burns Night in the Dining Room – 28 Queen Street, Mon 25 Jan   More >

FREE Live Music Night – The Vaults, Mon 25 Jan   More >

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 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

Luxco Introduces New Handcrafted Irish Whiskey

The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey Launching in U.S. in January 2016

(St. Louis) January 5, 2016 — Luxco is proud to introduce its first-ever Irish whiskey, The Quiet Man, set to launch two varieties in the U.S. this month. The handcrafted Quiet Man is produced through Luxco’s partnership with Niche Drinks in Derry, Ireland, and is the first Irish whiskey bottled in Derry in more than 100 years.

The Quiet Man brand was born when Ciaran Mulgrew, managing director and co-owner of Niche Drinks, and founder of The Quiet Man, decided to create a whiskey to honor his father, John Mulgrew.

“The Quiet Man is a completely unique combination of hand selected whiskies, finished in first-fill bourbon barrels, creating sweet and spicy notes,” Ciaran Mulgrew said. “In more than 50 years behind the bar, my father saw and heard it all, but like all good bartenders, John Mulgrew was true to the code and told no tales. He was ‘The Quiet Man,’ or as they say in the pubs of Ireland, ‘An Fear Ciuin.’”

Distilled in traditional Irish whiskey pot stills matured in oak barrels and recasked in first-fill bourbon casks, The Quiet Man will be available in two varieties: The Quiet Man Traditional Blended Irish Whiskey and The Quiet Man 8-Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey, both bottled at 80 proof and sold in 750ML bottles. The Traditional Blended Irish Whiskey is aged four years and has a high malt percentage, compared to most blends, offering a mellow and ultra-smooth finish. The Single Malt offers a smooth taste and floral notes for a premium experience.

“The difference between a good whiskey and a great whiskey lies not just in picking the best ingredients and having the most skilled distiller,” Mulgrew added. “It lies in selecting the finest barrels to let the whiskey mature in. Our unique process of finishing the aging in barrels that previously held bourbon but never whiskey allows The Quiet Man to soak up those wonderfully sweet yet spicy oak flavors, and the result is two great Irish whiskies.”

The Quiet Man is currently available in Germany, South Africa, Canada and Ireland, and was first bottled in June 2015. It will be available in the U.S. in January, through a joint venture between Luxco and Niche Drinks, whose partnership dates back to 1986.

Suggested retail price is $39.99 for the blended variety and $49.99 for the single malt variety.

For more information on The Quiet Man, please visit http://www.thequietmanirishwhiskey.com/, or www.facebook.com/the-quiet-man-irish-whiskey.

About Luxco

Luxco, Inc. is a leading producer, importer and marketer of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our consumers, associates and business partners. Founded in St. Louis in 1958, where it is headquartered, it is owned and operated by the Lux family. Its portfolio of brands include: Juarez Tequila & Triple Sec, Pearl Vodka, Everclear Grain Alcohol, Arrow Cordials, El Mayor Tequila, Ezra Brooks & Rebel Yell Bourbons, Lord Calvert Canadian Whisky, St. Brendan’s Irish Cream, Salvador’s Cocktails, Yago Sant’ gria and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company, visit http://www.luxco.com/.

About Niche Drinks

Since 1983, Niche Drinks has been producing Cream Liqueurs, Irish Coffee and Ready To Drink Cocktails of the highest quality for its retail partners in Ireland, the UK, the USA and Europe. Additionally, Niche, located in Derry, Ireland, provides its expertise to multinational drinks companies, creating brands for them to market and sell from Boston to Bangkok.

How’s your head? How’s your wallet? Hope they both survived the holidays! Why not take advantage of this quiet week and grab the Speyside issue (and use some of that holiday cash to subscribe!). As always, some of the best stuff is up front; your letters, for example, include compliments and questions about our landmark Value issue (with 92 whiskies rated 90+ and under $100), the Table Bourbon piece, and another great reminiscence of the bootlegging days. Distillations brings you Toronto in 48 Hours, advice on investing in Japanese whiskies, and a guide to the 10 signature whisky aromas. What else? Oh, there’s barrel-aged sauces, whisky ice cream recipes, a fantastic list of whisky gifts (never too late!), a guide to buying your own cask, and a beautiful tribute to drinking in Scottish bars. That’s not even all there is…but you really should subscribe to get every last drop!

• Bowmore 10 Year Old “Devil’s Casks” 2nd Edition Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ( $99.99) Heavily-sherried Bowmore at cask strength, in limited quantities. The notes from the distillery read: “On the eye deep mahogany. Breathe in rich sherried sweetness with dates and sultanas smothered in the indulgence of treacle toffee, pecan and maple syrup. Sip sublime velvet of dark chocolate fudge infused with sherried dark fruit, sea-salt and walnut oil. Savour long-lasting finish with sun-dried raisins and salted treacle.”

• 1995 Caol Ila 20 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Cask Strength Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ( $139.99) We’ve got three words for you in relation to our new 20 year old Caol Ila cask: BUY, BUY, BUY!!! Diageo has been sold out of the standard Caol Ila 12 year expression for the last year due to shortages of the peated Islay malt. Somehow, someway, however, we locked down an absolutely stunning 20 year hogshead at full proof at a price far less than what it should be. This isn’t some rag tag cask either, but rather an absolutely glorious expression of everything that makes Caol Ila wonderful: a round, fruity, almost creamy mouthfeel of soft vanilla and oily richness, contrasted by an intense peatiness that injects a healthy dose of smoke into all that weight. At cask strength, there’s extra pop to all that dynamism, but it never overpowers the flavor. This whisky needs no water, no dilution whatsoever in order to be enjoyed. Just pop and pour, and take in everything that makes Caol Ila one of Scotland’s legendary whiskies–during a time when supplies happen to be scarcer than ever!

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

Burns Night 2016 | Monday 25th January 2016

With the season of festive celebrations over and the long dark nights lingering on, at least here in Scotland, we look to the next event that always guaratess to lift the spirits; Burns Night. And lift the spirits it certainly does as on this night it is customary to raise a dram to toast the illustrious Scottish poet, Robert Burns. We are all very familiar with his works as a Poet, indeed worldwide he is celebrated and revered for the likes of Tam o’ Shanter, A Red Red Rose and as many of us no doubt sang to ring in 2016, Auld Lang Syne.

To date we have 12 Burns Malts® available and at New Year we introduced some new drams to the range with the introduction of the Burns Grain® label. Recognising the growing prominence of single grain scotch whiskey, we have again sourced only the best casks for these new Whisky Barrel Exclusive bottlings – Burns Malt® and Burns Grain®.

Please click here to read more

Just Whisky Auction is live with their latest auction! Bidding ends on the 17^th January at 8PM UK time. As usual there is a fantastic array of beauties to bid on. Make your new year’s resolution to expand your Whisky Collection or grab a bargain to enjoy a Winters Dram!

www.just-whisky.co.uk

WHISKY REVIEW OF 2015 – Paul McLean 

A personal view if the whisky industry in 2015 by Paul McLean, owner MCLEANSCOTLAND.COM & WHISKYTOURS.SCOT

Where do I start? It has been a busy year for whisky, so much has happened, lots of news and some seriously strange decisions. Let me start by wishing all distilleries and staff a happy new year and best wishes for 2016, especially the small independents and new start ups, both here in Scotland and over in our Celtic neighbour Ireland. Talking of which, there has been much movement over on the Emerald Isle, an upsurge in Irish whiskey – about time, with lots of new start up distilleries, 2 in Dublin alone. I think there was a heavy bias, or snobbery against Irish whiskey for too many years, myself, I have always enjoyed it, at my local pub here in Perth, Black Bush is my dram and thankfully, Helen & Billy keep buying it in for me specially! To be honest, Redbreast is my favourite Irish dram, but with so many to try, it is a hard thing to stay with just one, I urge you to try the likes of Green and Yellow Spot, The Midleton’s are fabulous, there I go, on a roll again about my Mum’s country drams, if you havnee tried many Irish, please look into it soon!

One bottle I hope to look forward to this year hopefully, is a Daft Mill dram, have been there a few times aye, tasted new make and very young drams, but I can’t wait for a good aged dram from Francis, that would be a highlight. Another vastly underrated distillery is Glen Moray, because of their pricing structure (low) for a quality product, I feel it puts people off trying their drams, how foolish, I took a tour there last summer (one of many), a large group of 28, I couldnee get them all out! The shelves took a battering, specially 25 and 30 year old, say no more, it is one of my favourite distilleries and we like them all there, thanks very much guys! Scotland to me, remains the best whisky producer in the world, ok so maybe we have a few more distilleries available to us, but we have constantly great whisky from all corners of the country. Aye saying that though, I do like very much Japanese and Taiwanese drams and Paul John in Goa is running up catching them with several superb drams, specially their peated.

World whisky has come on leaps and bounds, with Australia, European and Asian drams all good. The one thing that gets up my nostrils – Bibleman and his numpty awards! It is really like a paid advertisement for certain drams, making his best whisky of the year, with otherwise totally unforgettable whisky. I see lately there are lots of a certain Canadian whisky in the auctions, I hope the money paid off with a profit, take it while you cam, because as soon as real whisky drinkers start tasting this stuff, the bottom will fall out of that market (in my own view that is). Harsh? I don’t think so. I also forecast Japanese drams will calm doon in price, right now they are a crest of a wave, it will calm doon by summer and once again good Scottish drams will take top slot. Have you noticed how Macallan have calmed doon? They always used to be number one in auctions, maybe once again.

Awards, are they worth the paper they are written on? And the cost of the actual awards? In my view, no. It seems to me that every distillery/country will get a turn to win something, awards are made up to find a category for some drams, this is daft. And whilst I am on ma soapbox, will distilleries please resist from producing outlandish packaging that no one can afford. If you buy whisky it is to drink aye? Why would we wish to buy a piece of crafted silver, in a handmade wooden box, on a marble plinth with (ok a nice whisky) drams hidden by the packaging? Just sell us a good dram in an affordable bottle – which we throw away anyhow. Rant over.

Festivals and tastings are springing up everywhere, grand! This brings whisky to many people and many who have not tried too many, options are there to research and develop your senses into liking many other whiskies than what you thought you liked. Please don’t forget, whisky is like fine art, liking one or more, is equal to liking fine art, it is in the eye (or mouth) of the beholder. Buy/drink what you like, what you can afford and maybe test a few you havnee tried before. It’s a great game. I will be hosting a tasting myself early February, do I do blind tastings or name them as we go, or both? At the Spirit of Speyside this year we are offering events, one being with our friend Ian Buxton; Does packaging affect your whisky purchases? After working with Liz (biz partner for last 20 years) who used to say “that’s a nice bottle” meaning shape and design, she now buys for the whisky inside the bottle, that made me think, and asked Ian to do this for us, he agreed quickly!

So, my own whisky awards … as guests of Chivas recently, Ian Logan gave us (Liz and myself) a dram of Glenlivet 50 year old, I couldnee open my mouth or eyes after it, I couldnee find the right expression or words to qualify! Kavalan Solist range – great. Balvenie 40 year old, Redbreast Sherry bottle, all great and how can I leave out others? Well there is also one NOT from a distillery, my pal Tim (in Moscow) distils his own, he gave me a 40 month old whisky – sublime. Corriemhor too, the list could go on and on. If I had to sit doon with just one bottle, it would be Tim’s. Have a happy and rewarding 2016 everyone! Should you wish a fantastic whisky tour, look at our website www.whiskytours.scot.

Toast Scotland’s Favourite Son with the only official Robert Burns whisky this Burns Night

Celebrate one of the biggest parties in the Scottish calendar a dram of Robert Burns Single Malt from the award-winning Scotch whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers this January 25^th. The only whisky endorsed by the World Robert Burns Federation, it’s the perfect choice for raising a birthday toast to Scotland’s most beloved poet.

Born just across the water from Arran in Ayrshire, The Bard is commemorated by the Isle of Arran Distillery with this sweet and creamy malt with flavours of honey and toffee-glazed pecans. Smooth and mellow, it’s ideal for cocktails or enjoyed by itself over ice or with a drop of water.

James McTaggart, Arran’s master distiller, said: “As patrons of the Robert Burns World Federation, we wanted to invoke the inclusive spirit of Burns Night with the Robert Burns Single Malt, it’s a dram that welcomes newcomers to whisky without sacrificing depth of flavour.

 “This makes the Burns Malt perfect for those throwing more contemporary Burns Night celebrations in addition to the beloved neeps and tatties, piping in the haggis and Selkirk Grace model.”

Retailing at £29.99, the Robert Burns Single Malt is available to buy online at http://www.arranwhisky.com/ and in specialist whisky stores.

Notes to editors:

For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com

* Current accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the World Spirits Competition 2012. Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards 2012.

Whisky wander: a Spirited Journey Through the Past Century with Alwynne Gwilt