Glenmorangie’s Men of Tain provide unprecedented access to Distillery at May Open Weekend

Glenmorangie’s legendary craftsmen will share the secrets of their famed single malt at the Distillery’s open weekend in May. On Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd May, they will open the Distillery for free, offering visitors unprecedented access to Glenmorangie’s innovative whisky making – and an insight into the Distillery’s pioneering work to protect its environment and heritage.

Throughout the day, Distillery tours led by the Men of Tain and Visitor Centre team will allow guests to view Glenmorangie’s stills – the tallest in Scotland, and visitors on both days will also be offered the chance to fill Glenmorangie’s new spirit into oak casks used to mature the Distillery’s flagship whisky, Glenmorangie Original. Meanwhile, the experts who create Glenmorangie’s expressions will also provide an insight into Glenmorangie’s range of whiskies, in a programme of Glenmorangie ‘Master Classes’. A lucky few will also be able to join an intriguing sonic tasting that provides guests with a complete sensory experience of Glenmorangie Signet, one of the Distillery’s rarest and most iconic expressions.

Glenmorangie (Scots Gaelic for the Glen of Tranquillity) is also committed to sustaining and enhancing the fragile beauty of its peaceful setting on the shores of the Dornoch Firth. The Distillery’s innovative project to improve the Dornoch Firth’s marine ecosystem is a big focus of the weekend, inviting visitors to explore the work underway on the DEEP project – an ambitious plan to restore ancient oyster and shellfish beds in the Firth. Experts from the Distillery’s partners, the Marine Conservation Society and Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University will be on hand to explain the project. A touch tank will also give children a hands-on experience of sea life.

The Distillery’s commitment to understand more about the ancient people of its homeland will also be showcased in a display by Glenmorangie’s partner, National Museums Scotland. Centre stage is a recreation of an ornate Pictish throne, crafted as part of archaeological research supported by The Glenmorangie Company that is shedding new light on to the early people of Scotland and which underlines the historic importance of the area around Tain and the Distillery as an epicentre of this early civilisation.

Distillery Manager Andy MacDonald said: “Glenmorangie is dedicated to sustaining the beautiful environment which has inspired our single malt for over 170 years. We hope visitors will immerse themselves in our tranquil surroundings and really enjoy the weekend’s many events.”

The Distillery is open to all 10:00-16:30 on 21st & 22nd May. Entry is free. Booking is advisable for cask-filling, tasting master classes and tours. Contact tain-shop@glenmorangie.co.uk or 01862 892477

From Eric Fergie at FETS WHISKY KITCHEN…

As you are all aware the residents of Fort McMurray and the surrounding area were evacuated as the massive fire razed their city. With nearly 90,000 people being forced to flee their homes and the uncertainty of when and in some cases if they will be returning, we wanted to do something for them. These are our men, women and children and they need our help.

We are partnering with our food and whisky providers to raise money for the Canadian Red Cross’ Alberta Fire Appeal. The Canadian Red Cross is, along with other agencies, assisting our displaced citizens with food, clothing, necessities, lodging and counselling. The federal government has offered to match all donations made the the Canadian Red Cross for the victims of this catastrophic event.

Fet’s Whisky Kitchen will be hosting a series of 5 Whisky events to raise money for our fellow Canadians, our goal is $10,000 with the fed matchup we can raise $20,000. Why the Canadian Red Cross? We looked at all the agencies fundraising and the Red Cross has the lowest administration costs with 91% of all money raised going to support those in need.

In addition to the generous support from our whisky partners we would also like to thank our food partners for their generous donations as well:

Gordon Food Service
Cioffi’s Meats
Hallmark Poultry
D’Original Sausage Company
Finest at Sea

Click here to donate directly to the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal

The first in our Alberta Fire Appeal Whisky Tasting series will be Macallan & Highland Park.

Join us as Dan Volway, Canada’s Brand Ambassador to these iconic brand returns to The Kitchen with whisky and tales from abroad, and you know Dan always brings along something extra special as a surprise.

Aside from an entertaining evening with Dan, his whiskies and light fare from our kitchen we will be raising money for an urgent cause. All proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the Canadian Red Cross with The Edrington Group, Macallan’s parent company matching every dollar raised.

Our talented kitchen team will be creating a light fare to accompany these fabulous whiskies.

So grab one of our limited tickets and join us and Dan on Tuesday May 24th for whisky tasting here at The Kitchen.

As always there are only 30 tickets available and I can assure you they sell out fast.

Be sure to plan for a safe ride home!

The cost for this event is only $60 plus GST and is open to only 30 people!  click here to register

Learn More Here

Hush Presents: Blades

Hush Mayfair, London’s exclusive dining destination and cocktail bar, is excited to announce the arrival of a new dining space, as Blades brings steak, lobster and whisky to the Mayfair townhouse’s elegant Silver Room. 

Inspired by the Mayfair of a bygone era, Blades harks back to the 1960’s, when Mayfair was “the place to go” for any discerning Londonista worth their bowler hat.  The name references the private member’s club to which James Bond’s M belonged, and was an obvious choice for founder Jamie Barber. “I have always referred to Hush as a private member’s club you don’t have to be a member of, and Blades is the ultimate expression of that,” Barber says. “Hush has a natural ‘60’s connection: our windows look into Jimi Hendrix’s apartment, and iconic 60’s photography lines our walls, so this (plus our natural affiliation with Bond) was a fantastic opportunity for us to rediscover the glamour of the era.”

Reflecting the swinging Mayfair set’s particular taste, ardor for high cuisine and insistence on quality ingredients, Blades’ menu revolves around steak, lobster and craft whiskies. Diners can opt for a Whole Cornish Lobster either grilled, tempura or Thermidor, or pair a half lobster with Rib-Eye, Fillet or Sirloin. These can be paired with Blades’ own Bloody Mary Ketchup, or an array of sauces from Club Stilton Butter to Blades Blend Whisky Glaze. Elsewhere, dishes are decadent and distinctly British, from Whisky-Cured Smoked Salmon to Stargazy Pie with Lobster and Rabbit. Desserts feature twists on British classics, such as Whisky and Brown Butter Brioche Pudding, whilst a “Scoop of Club Stilton with a Glass of Port” is recommended, in homage to M’s penchant for “the ripest spoonful he could gouge from the club Stilton” in The Man with the Golden Gun.

Whiskies have been hand-sourced by Hush Bar Director, Pedro Solorzano, and include a number of limited bottles of American, Japanese and Scottish handcrafted whiskies and Bourbons from “forgotten distilleries”. These can be sipped neat, sampled in a range of whisky “flight,” or enjoyed in a Blades Tipple, such as the Mr Kipling’s, with Apple Wood infused Rye Whisky, egg white and orange bitters, or the Bond Street Boulvardier, built with vanilla infused bourbon. For the ultimate indulgence, signature cocktail The Bowler features Blades’s own bespoke blended whisky, mixed tableside on an iconic golden drinks trolley.

Bedecked with iconic 1960’s photography, Blades’ walls showcase a candid selection of photographs from co-founder Geoffrey (“son of Sir Roger”) Moore’s personal collection, for visitors to peruse as they dine.

They say the devil is in the detail and Blades does not disappoint.

Available now, prices from 14.95 – 38.00 bookings can be made via info@hush.co.uk or by calling 020 7659 1500 

Notes 

About Hush 

Owned by Jamie Barber and co-owned by Roger “James Bond” Moore and Evgeny Lebedev (owner of the Evening Standard and the Independent), Hush is a sophisticated yet relaxed Brasserie and Bar, with one of the most talked-about Private Dining rooms in London. Discreetly tucked away in a cobbled courtyard in the heart of historic Mayfair, Hush is regularly regarded as one of London’s hidden gems.

Hush is open for dining Monday – Saturday from 8am until 11pm; Saturday – Sunday from 12pm – 11pm. The Lounge Bar remains open until 12am.

http://www.hush.co.uk/

@hush_restaurant

Lancashire Court, 8 Brook St, London W1S 1EY

Blair Athol 5 Year Old – 2010 / Sherry Butt

A 5 year old Blair Athol, matured in a sherry butt since 2010 and bottled by Càrn Mòr in 2016 for their Strictly Limited series of malts. 870 bottles from 1 cask, bottled at 46% vol.

£33.70

Glenlivet 2001 – George & J.G. Smith’s

A George & J.G. Smith’s Glenlivet from Gordon & MacPhail, distilled in 2001 and bottled in 2016. We love the retro labels used for these Independent releases and the whisky is always excellent.

£45.60

Mortlach 21 Year Old

A 21 year old Mortlach bottled by Independent whisky bottlers Gordon & MacPhail. Superb value for money on this big hitting Mortlach, aged in refill sherry casks before being bottled at 43% vol.

£74.88

Ledaig 18 Year Old – 1997 / Càrn Mòr

An 18 year old Ledaig, bottled by Càrn Mòr for their Celebration of the Cask series. Distilled in 1997, this Island Scotch whisky was aged in a single cask hogshead (Cask 643023) until 2016 where it was bottled at cask strength, 55.6% vol.

£86.20

Auchentoshan 24 Year Old – 1991 / Càrn Mòr

Distilled in 1991 at the Auchentoshan distillery, this Lowland single malt Scotch whisky was left to matured for 24 long years in a single sherry hogshead (cask 2953). Bottled in 2016 by Càrn Mòr, for their Celebration of the Cask range. 215 bottled filled at 50.9%.

£125.80

www.ralfy.com finds great enjoyment and a precious malt-moment with Whisky Review 583 – Isle of Arran 18yo @ 46%

Laphroaig® Lore™, Laphroaig’s Richest Single Malt Expression To-Date, Arrives Stateside

To celebrate a legacy of over 200 years of masterful whisky making, Laphroaig today announces the highly anticipated launch of Laphroaig® Lore™, its richest single malt whisky expression ever.

Laphroaig distillery manager, John Campbell, created Lore to honor how Laphroaig has been made for the last two centuries. As the name suggests, Lore is inspired by the knowledge and traditions passed down from generation to generation of Laphroaig distillery managers and custodians.

“Laphroaig Lore is the story of Laphroaig itself. It’s a massive whisky, as bold as it is deep, and one that I sincerely hope does justice to our many generations of Laphroaig distillery managers,” said Campbell. “We make the whisky we make because of the knowledge and craft that has been passed down throughout the years. Lore is our story, bottled – the richest of the rich.”

Rich and deep with distinctive smoke, peat and seaside minerality, the expression is unmistakably Laphroaig. The remarkable flavor is the result of liquid being drawn from a selection of casks including double matured first-fill ex-bourbon barrels followed by virgin European oak, first-fill oloroso sherry butts, first-fill and refill quarter casks, and refill ex-Laphroaig stock. This careful process captures the timeless passion and very essence of the Laphroaig distillery.

Laphroaig’s story began in 1815 when brothers Alexander and Duncan Johnston created and crafted a recipe for extraordinarily rich single malt. That recipe was significantly added to in the 1920s by then-distillery manager, Ian Hunter, who was amongst the first to pioneer the use of ex-bourbon casks. Further chapters were added to Laphroaig’s history by the 20th century’s only female Scotch whisky distiller/owner, Bessie Williamson.

At 96 proof, Laphroaig Lore is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, allowing the rich flavor of the whisky to speak for itself. If desired, water can also be added to open up the liquid. Laphroaig Lore joins the permanent Laphroaig portfolio of Scotch whiskies that includes Laphroaig 10 Year Old, 10 Year Old Cask Strength, Quarter Cask, Triple Wood, and Select, and will be available in select markets beginning May 1, 2016 at a suggested retail price of $124.99 for a 750ml bottle.

For more information, please visit www.Laphroaig.com for a product locator, like us on Facebook.com/LaphroaigUSA or follow us @LaphroaigUSA on Twitter. To become a Friend of Laphroaig® and stay up to date on special editions, consumers should look for the code on their next bottle purchase.

About Laphroaig®

Laphroaig (La-‘froyg) literally means “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay.” Born from the streams and blue peat smoke of Islay, Laphroaig is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a distinct taste and story in every bottle. The secret to Laphroaig is that it benefits from the happy circumstances of where it is produced—next to ocean water and on land that gives Laphroaig a unique peaty taste. It is one of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns. It’s also the only Single Malt Scotch Whisky to bear a Royal Warrant bestowed by HRH Prince Charles. Further demonstrating the whisky’s superior quality, Laphroaig Select won Double Gold at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Laphroaig Quarter Cask won Best of Category at the 2015 Los Angeles Spirits Competition, Laphroaig 10 Year Old won Best of Show and Double Gold at the 2015 Denver International Spirits Competition, and Laphroaig Triple Wood received Excellent, Highly Recommended at the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. The Laphroaig Distillery also won three awards in 2014, including Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year in the Icons of Whisky awards. For additional information on Laphroaig, please visit www.Laphroaig.com.

Laphroaig encourages fans across the world to share their opinion of its expressions via their global campaign, #OpinionsWelcome™. The campaign commemorates the passion of an enlightened few and showcases their candid, real-life opinions of the liquid. Friends can share their own opinions at www.Laphroaig.com/Opinions or on social media with the hashtag #OpinionsWelcome.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

TUESDAY 31 MAY AT 7.30PM
£45 PER TICKET

Tickets on sale
Wednesday 18 May at 3pm
BOOK YOUR TICKET »

LAGAVULIN 200TH ANNIVERSARY TASTING WITH COLIN DUNN

2016 is a special year for Lagavulin – the distillery is celebrating its 200th anniversary. We’ll be joining in the celebrations with a special tasting led by Diageo whisky ambassador Colin Dunn, including the brand-new 200th anniversary bottling – Lagavulin 8 Year Old.

Long a favourite of whisky connoisseurs from around the world, Lagavulin’s range showcases different sides of the distillery’s peaty character. From punchy to elegant and refreshing to rich, there’s something for everyone, as long as you like a smoky dram.

Our host for the evening is Colin Dunn, Diageo whisky ambassador, and a familiar face to whisky fans around the UK. He’ll be leading us through the distillery’s current line-up, including some very special limited-edition whiskies.

Colin Dunn

We’ll be trying

Lagavulin 8yo 200th Anniversary Edition
Lagavulin 12yo Special Releases 2015
Lagavulin 16yo
Lagavulin 1999 Distillers Edition
Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 2015 Special Edition
Lagavulin 1985 21yo Sherry Cask

It’s an incredible line-up and is sure to be a popular tasting – tickets won’t last long, so make sure you don’t miss out. The tasting will take place on Tuesday 31 May at 7.30pm.

VENUE

THE JUDGE’S COURT, BROWNS,
82-84 ST MARTIN’S LANE
LONDON WC2N 4AG

PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE VENUE FROM 7.15PM FOR A 7.30PM START

Fantastic prize draws – enter today!

WIN A BOTTLE OF PORT ASKAIG 45 YEAR OLD WORTH £1,200

Port Askaig is the superb range of Islay whiskies from our sister company Speciality Drinks. The 45 Year Old is a vatting of five sherry butts distilled on Islay in 1968 and aged for more than four decades – the result is a delicious combination of ripe fruit, coastal flavours and spicy chocolate. To be in with a chance of winning, you need to buy a bottle of Port Askaig 100° Proof, the newest addition to the Port Askaig range, and a great everyday Islay whisky. To find out more, click here. The draw ends on Friday 27 June.

WIN EIGHT BOTTLES OF TALISKER WORTH MORE THAN £800

Talisker is the much-loved smoky, peppery whisky from the Isle of Skye, and we’re giving away a mammoth eight-bottle collection with all your favourite bottles, including the 25 and 30 Year Olds. We’ve also included the ever-popular 10 Year Old and also the 2003 Distillers Edition, which is the current Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year. If you buy a bottle of Talisker 18 Year Old, we’ll enter you into the draw, which ends on Friday 27 June. To find out more, click here.

WIN A BOTTLE OF BALBLAIR 1969 WORTH £1,295

Located by the Dornoch Firth north of Inverness, Highland distillery Balblair has garnered a great reputation for top-notch single-vintage whiskies. We are offering one lucky person a bottle of the majestic 1969, which displays classic fruity Balblair notes of apples and honey, but with an extra layer of Christmas-cake spices and dried fruit. To enter, buy a bottle of Balblair’s excellent 1999 bottling, and we’ll add your name to the list. This draw also ends on Friday 27 June and you can find out more here.

WIN ALL NINE EDITIONS OF PARKER’S HERITAGE COLLECTION WORTH OVER £2,500

Parker’s Heritage Collection began as a tribute to Parker Beam and his five decades of hard work at Heaven Hill. The first whiskey, launched in 2007, was an 11-year-old cask-strength Kentucky straight bourbon but the style changes each year, from Cognac-finished bourbon to wheat whiskey and even straight malt. To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous nine-strong whiskey collection, simply buy a bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2004, a sweet, fruit and spicy single-vintage bourbon. To find out more, click here.

All of our draws end at 11.59pm BST on the specified date. And if you are lucky enough to be one of our winners, we’re always delighted if you send us a photo of you and your prize – you can get in touch with us via our Facebook page or via Twitter. Good luck!

 MAY 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