Orphan Barrel “Rhetoric” 22 Year Old Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml – ships like 1.5L due to bottle shape) ($119.99)

95 points Wine Enthusiast: “Amber-hued and bright in the glass, this delivers big caramel and toffee, interwoven with drier leather, espresso, cigar wrapper and cocoa. It’s best with a little dilution, which coaxes out rounded almond notes on this pleasing sipper. (KN)” (09/2016)

K&L Notes: Maxim called the Rhetoric 22-Year-Old a “top-shelf triumph,” saying, “The mash bill for Rhetoric Whiskey is 86% corn, 8% barley and 6% rye. Beginning with hints of toasted grains, cherries and oak wood, Rhetoric 22-Year-Old tastes of toasted oak and dark chocolate with ripe banana and baking spices of clove and anise, while the finish is long and woody ending with dark chocolate notes. In other words, you’ll want to sip this one slowly….” (JPS, 5/2016)

Whisky Wednesday publishes a Haig Club Clubman Review

Blog. Balmoral invites Paul to a whisky tasting

How do I turn this down? I didn’t. I wafted along there looking forward to tasting a few drams, maybe meeting a few known whisky associates. Welcomed in by Fraser (who invited me in the first place), then introduced to G&M drams and a quick nose around to see who/what was here. A nice lassie with Highland Park and Auchentoshan beckoned, so I duly obliged taking a dram of Three Wood Auchentoshan to start the evening off. A nice chat and a dram of HP Origins, a good start. I turned around and Ally fae Tomatin was there, I know him from a few tasting before, good man so he is and offered me anything he had! So I took a slug of Tomatin 1995 (excellent value at £99.99) it was superb by the way. A chat and a promise to return (or was it a threat?), I dondered over to Bunny Heaven man, where there was a dram waiting for me; Ceobanach @ 46.3%, this was savoured and needed another just to be sure, the second was as good as the first. It was just about here Fraser came back for a chat, a good evening, many American guests here having a great time, Fraser introduced me to G&M Private Collection; 4 bottles worth £24 the set – he reckons this is the only bar in UK (the world?) with this set.

Mortlach 1951, 63 year old; Glenlivet 1952, 62 year old; Linkwood 1953, 61 year old; Strathisla 1957, 57 year old. I wished I could have sampled these, but they were not available this evening (will need go back for a private tasting soon), there are no too many of these bottles to be found anywhere, it reminds me of a Dalmore collection, BUT BETTER! After a nibble on some cheeses to refresh my palate I wandered back to Ally for a Cu Bocan 1988, peaty, but no too much so, grand! So what else attracted my taste buds? Raasay distillery were there with a sample or two which hit the spot again, their stills are in, All the way from Tuscany. Something to see here in early 2017. Benromach quenched my thirst also with a nice wee 35 year old.

The evening drams were interrupted with a cake cutting ceremony, which I fell for, as you do. I ended my dramming with a Glen Scotia Double cask from Gary, well, after having been there recently it would be rude not to eh? It was a delightful couple of hours dramming away, munching cheeses and cake, a chat with Fraser, Ally, my wee lassie pal at HP and I was off away to bed. It was a great night, am looking forward to next year – 4^th birthday dramfest.

Paul McLean   http://www.mcleanscotland.com/   http://www.whiskytours.scot/

THE FAMOUS GROUSE BRINGS BACK THE BIRD THIS CHRISTMAS 

There’s already a sense of Christmas in the air but it will all become very real on Monday when The Famous Grouse is back on our screens with a brand new advert.

For over 20 years the famous bird has graced our TV screens, heralding the start of the festive season, and this year sees the brand’s icon return but in his natural habitat, in the Highlands of Scotland.

The UK’s No.1 whisky has created two new TV adverts communicating ‘perfectly balanced’ and ‘smooth’ – two key characteristics of The Famous Grouse – underpinning the quality of the nation’s favourite whisky.

The ‘Perfectly Balanced’ advert will air for the first time on 17 October on various channels and VOD with the second advert set to air in November.

“Our fans tell us they know Christmas is coming when they see our icon on TV” explained Johna Penman, Marketing Controller for The Famous Grouse. “This year he is back and can now be seen enjoying life in his natural habitat, whilst retaining his playful sense of humour.” 

Notes

About Maxxium UK

• Maxxium is the distributor of The Famous Grouse in the UK.
• The Famous Grouse portfolio includes: The Famous Grouse, The Famous Grouse Smoky Black, The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold, and The Naked Grouse.
• Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Suntory and Edrington.
• Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: Blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Auchentoshan, The Macallan, and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club, Red Stag) Japanese whiskey (Hibiki, Yamazaki, Hakashu), cognac (Courvoisier) vodka (Stolichnaya), rum (Brugal), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Midori, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, After Shock).

CLYDE MAY’S INTRODUCES NEW STRAIGHT BOURBON AND CASK STRENGTH WHISKEY 

New Products Deliver Premium Quality and Taste While Celebrating Alabama Iconoclast 

GARDEN CITY, NY, (September 20, 2016) — Clyde May’s Whiskey is pleased to introduce its newest premium spirits – a non-chill filtered, 92-proof STRAIGHT BOURBON and a 117-proof, 8-year CASK STRENGTH whiskey. Clyde May was a moonshiner by trade and a craftsman by heart, and in continued celebration of his legacy to craftsmanship, these smooth-tasting new products will debut on store shelves nationwide during September — Clyde’s birthday and National Bourbon Heritage Month. 

5-year, Non-Chill Filtered, 92-proof Straight Bourbon Paying homage to Clyde May himself – a moonshine icon who made the best whiskey Alabama ever tasted – and his dedication to his craft, this non-chill filtered straight bourbon is a classic 5-year-old, easy drinking spirit. Using simple and traditional ingredients, the bourbon mash is patiently aged in heavily “alligator” charred new American oak barrels to produce exceptional flavors that feature a soft, sweet nose of brown sugar, baked apricot, wild strawberry and nutmeg. Its soft palate delivers complex aromas of barrel spice, fruit and oiled leather, while the finishes are robust, long and delicious. 

Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon recently earned a Gold Medal in the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and received a 93 rating in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. It is best enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a carefully crafted cocktail. 

8-year, Cask Strength

This 8-year old whiskey is bottled at Cask Strength to release a full nose of citrus, peach and cedar. At 117 proof, the Cask Strength delivers layers of rich spice, apple and oak on the palate, and finishes with a lingering complexity of zesty orchard fruits and white pepper. A spirit this pure is best served with just one large piece of ice to help bring out its natural flavors without watering it down. 

Much like when Clyde May distilled his renowned original moonshine, he did it in small quantities, and given the level of craftsmanship involved in creating Clyde May’s Cask Strength, only 3,000 bottles of this unique spirit were produced. 

“Using a lot of great care and consideration, both the Straight Bourbon and the Cask Strength Whiskey stay true to Clyde May’s heritage and his craftsmanship,” said Ron Call, Clyde May’s Whiskey Master. “I’m delighted that these two carefully-crafted spirits deliver such great character and intensity, while being exceptionally smooth and appreciated by whiskey drinkers of all calibers.” 

Jay Liddell, Clyde May’s National Marketing Director, said, “These new products both reflect the same great craftsmanship and passion that made Clyde May’s the Official State Spirit of Alabama, but also represents the future and potential of this brand.” 

The Straight Bourbon began national distribution in early September with a suggested retail price of $39.99, while the Cask Strength will hit shelves on October 1 and will retail for around $89.99. These two line extensions follow the brand’s first-ever line extension in October 2015 – a Special Reserve Whiskey for $59.99. 

For more information about Clyde May’s – the whiskey and the man – and to get delicious cocktail recipes, visit the website at www.clydemays.com. 

About Clyde May’s Whiskey

Clyde May was an Alabama farmer, war hero, moonshiner by trade, but a craftsman by heart who set out to make the best whiskey Alabama ever tasted. Using copper stills, fresh Alabama spring water and the finest local grains, Clyde perfected his own unique finish – Alabama Style – by aging small batches in charred oak barrels, adding oven-dried apples to produce a hint of green apple that made his whiskey particularly smooth and set Clyde May’s Whiskey apart. Today, Clyde May’s Whiskey, www.clydemays.com, is an award-winning portfolio with four distinct product lines – 85-proof Whiskey, 110-proof Special Reserve, 92-proof Bourbon and 117-proof Cask Strength. Clyde May’s is owned by Conecuh Ridge Distillers, LLC, and was named the Official State Spirit of Alabama in 2004.

We are delighted to welcome Charles to the Dornoch Whisky Festival and you can be assured of some entertaining and informative company over the weekend! Charles Maclean was trained in ‘the sensory evaluation of potable spirits’ by the Scotch Whisky Research Institute in 1992 and has presented numerous tastings and talks in the U.K. and abroad for whisky companies, corporations, universities and clubs, and on radio and TV. He is a member of the Judging Panel (Spirits) of the International Wines & Spirits Competition, and was runner-up as ‘Communicator of the Year’ in the 2003 IWSC Awards.

See below to find out what events Charles will be attending!

Friday 28 October

The Dornoch Whisky Festival opens this year on the 28 October at 5pm with a tasting at Balblair run by well known whisky writer and taster, Charles MacLean. He starred in the film ‘The Angel’s Share’, based at Balblair Distillery. You are invited to take part is the unique opening event with Charles leading a welcome tasting prior to the viewing Angel’s Share! See the Angel’s Share trailer here. This exclusive event is limited to 16 places. Booking in advance is essential. The costs is £80 per person, which includes transport from Dornoch.

After the tasting and film, Charles will be hosting a dinner at Links House in Dornoch. This has now sold out but there are other venues around the town who are holding opening night dinners including the Royal Dornoch Golf Club and the Dornoch Castle Hotel.

Saturday 29

On Saturday 29, Charles will be attending the Gala Tasting event at the Dornoch Castle. He will be drawing the tombola for the Chocolate and Whisky Paring Masterclass and be around all afternoon to chat to the attendees and join in with the fun! Charles has described the Gala Whisky Tasting as a ‘rolling party’! See Charles talk about the Gala Tasting here and come along and join in the fun!

After the Gala Tasting, Charles will be doing a Taste of the Highlands masterclass at the newly opened Carnegie Whisky Cellars in the old Courthouse building.  The atmospheric tasting room is housed in the 200 year old original court record vault – complete with steel security door and Caithness slab flooring. 16 places are available at this exclusive event, at £150 per person

For all of the above events and more: www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com

Start planning your weekend now!

We’ve collaborated with one of Scotland’s finest contemporary artists to help save one of our most iconic landmarks: the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art. We asked artist John Lowrie Morrison – known as Jolomo and famous for his striking landscapes – to create a collection of seasonal paintings inspired by the distillery. He used to sketch here as a student, and the Dumgoyne landscape means almost as much to him as it does to us.

Each painting will be printed on a limited edition gift tin. And for every gift tin sold we’ll donate a contribution to The Mackintosh Appeal, which was set up after a tragic fire damaged the art school in May 2014. ‘Autumn Moon over Glengoyne’ is the first painting in the series – a burst of orange and gold inspired by the season. Inside the tin you’ll find a bottle of the 10 Year Old, so you can raise a dram, and raise funds while you’re at it. With your help, we hope to reach £50,000. You can buy the special limited edition tin from the online shop.

Sláinte!

Robbie Hughes

Distillery Manager

Laphroaig 30 Year Old 2016 Edition

£948.28

Laphroaig 30 Year Old 1985 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whiskey. 2016 limited edition double matured in ex-bourbon barrels. Laphroaig Distillery was established in 1815 on the rocky south coast of the Isle of Islay off the west coast of Scotland. This malt whiskey distillery continues to malt barley using its traditional malting floors and malt kiln. In 1994 the distiiley was awarded the Royal Warrant. The core range is quite extensive and supplemented by limited releases including a 21 year old was issued in 2015 to celebrate 21 years of Friends of Laphroaig. Independent bottlings are also available from Signatory, Cooper’s Choice and Hunter Laing. Laphroaig distillery also participates in Feis Ile, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

An independent, family-owned whiskey makers with a world-class distillery in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming. All of the ingredients (corn, wheat and barley) that go into the Wyoming Whiskey are non GMO, are sourced from inside the state and the water is pulled from a natural limestone aquifer that gives the whiskey a very unique texture and minerality. 5 years old at 44% ABV

TASTING NOTES:

COLOR: dark amber.

NOSE: floral, with a hint of vanilla bean and caramel pudding.

PALATE: floral with brown baking spices and browned butter, vanilla crème, caramel, and a hint of cinnamon.

FINISH: medium length finish with toffee. Spice and vanilla fade.

Fountana Beverage Corp.