www.ralfy.com reviews his “Whisky Of The Year 2015” with Whisky Review 567 – Old Pulteney 17yo re-reviewed

Brown-Forman Providing $10,000 for Safe Rides During the Holiday Season;

Brown-Forman partnering with transportation companies for safe rides through the New Year

{6:00 PM – 9:30 PM}

VANCOUVER WHISKY FESTIVAL

6PM to 9:30PM

January 18th, 2016

TERMINAL CITY CLUB
837 W Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1B6

MASTER CLASSES

WHISKY COCKTAIL

CHOCOLATE, FOOD, AND WHISKY PAIRING

BOUTIQUE WHISKY FESTIVAL IN VANCOUVER

6:00pm – 6:30pm Walk through and sign up for tours. Guests will arrive and be able to walk around the floor at their own leisure and see which brands are being represented as well as sign up for any of the three guided tours. Space for each tour will be limited to 10-15 people per session.

6:45pm – 7:15pm Tullibardine tasting session: This session will be hosted by James Robertson, International Sales Manager at Tullibardine Distillery. This session will showcase Tullibardine Sovereign, Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Finish, and Tullibardine 20 year old.

7:30pm – 8:00pm Amrut tasting session: This session will be hosted by Ashok Chokalingam, Head of International Operations for Amrut Distilleries. This session will showcase Amrut Naarangi, Amrut Fusion, and Amrut Peated.

8:15pm – 8:45pm Springbank tasting session: This session will be hosted by Ranald Watson, Sales and Marketing Manager at Springbank Distillery. This session will showcase Hazelburn 12 year old, Springbank 10 year old, and Longrow Peated.

8:45pm – 9:15pm We will be presenting a classic cocktail using Canadian Rockies 21 as the base spirit.

www.vancouverwhiskyfestival.com

Legacy Liquor Store is the official onsite liquor store of the 2016 Vancouver Whisky Festival

JANUARY TASTINGS AND EVENTS

January Outturn Preview Tasting – The Vaults, Thu 7 Jan   More >

New Outturn Tasting – 19 Greville Street, Sat 9 Jan   More >

FREE DROP-IN: Speyside & Lowland Lovers – The Vaults, Mon 11 Jan   More >

Steak & Whisky Tasting – 19 Greville Street, Mon 11 Jan   More >

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 >

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

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact:mailto:sales@smws.comor 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

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM WHISKY.AUCTION – GET BIDDING!

Happy New Year to all of you!

We hope that you have a happy and prosperous 2016, and what better way to start the year than by taking a look at our selection of lots from our latest auction.

We expect a high level of interest – don’t miss your chance!

This auction ends January 7th, 2016

CHRISTMAS with ANGELS

22 December 2015; the happy wanderer, departing Perth in the Ford pick up truck, well you just dinnaee know what the Scottish weather will throw at you! Best to be in a heavy 4×4, it was a beast. Whisky samples, food and wine enclosed in the cab, I headed north via the A9 route. Most distilleries are now closed for the festive period, so visits are low, but – nothing to stop me fae turning up and seeing who is there and what’s happening! The road trip started getting “drammy” when I met up with Robert Ransom, owner, blender of the famous Angels Nectar, we had arranged to meet in Grantown on Spey, where he handed me the two bottles, the Nectar blend and a brand new Angels Nectar Peat Edition. Created from a selection of the finest Speyside and Highland malt whiskies, bottled at 40% Vol., the First Edition of Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is naturally light in colour, no added colouring, a sweet nose of vanilla, stewed apples and fruit syrup, with a taste of heather honey and lemon, and a hint of spice on the finish. Blended by Angels, to be Shared with Friends. (http://www.angelsnectar.co.uk/) The Peat Edition was only bottled on 17 December, I think I was one of the first to get it, and – I don’t think angels will get any of my bottle, no, most of it will go with me to Wick in February when I do a tasting at Mackay’s Hotel of whiskies, tickets will be so hard to get hold of, I know 10 have gone already and not many more will be available. From GoS I drove to Aberlour and took a wee detour I know over the hill to Craigellachie, where I took a few angel photos. Then I drove on to Nairn with the angels in the truck, happy as Larry. Took time out to go to the beach. Checked into my hotel and chilled oot. A visit to the local bars followed with some grub.

23 December; The Picts were perhaps the true ancestors of the Scottish nation. By AD848 Pictavia, The Land Of The Picts, was united with the Kingdom of the Scots (Celts) creating the foundations (Dalriada) of modern day Scotland. What has mainly survived is the great heritage of their carved symbol stones, and Sueno’s Stone in Forres is the largest known Pictish monument. Sueno’s Stone, standing over 20 feet high and dating to the end of the first millennium AD. I stopped to say hello. I spent a half day with a few friends and a policeman, we drove into the darkest depths of Speyside, into the Glenknock, looking for beetroot rustlers. When caught, we knew who they were as their hands were purple and they had great big (mammy) lips, again of purple. It is a problem this time of year so I had agreed – as a sideline and something to while away an afternoon – to accompany the two beetroot Rangers and the law. It was an enlightening afternoon. A pleasure to grow and pull up out of the ground, beetroot has a unique earthy flavour that works really well with haggis and whisky. Don’t forget that young beetroot tops are just as delicious as the root. Ah haggis, I have also been privy to the hunt for haggis rustlers in the summer months, but’s that’s another tale. Beetroot are generally harvested from the early summer to late autumn in their first year of growth. It usually takes around 60 to 90 days for beetroot to reach full maturity. Beetroot can be harvested when required and left in the ground until the first heavy frosts of autumn. With our long summer and only just arrived (mild) winter, the Scottish beetroot harvest has been prolonged this year.

24 December; this morning I took a drive over to the Black Isle where I strolled along the coast for a while eyeing up the oil/gas rigs out in the Firth. Stopping at wee towns and villages of Avoch, Fortrose, Rosemarkie and Cromarty, a nice morning drive. A nice deviation from whisky. The afternoon consisted of (aye, you guessed …) more distillery visits. As I dropped by Miltonduff, Roseisle and Glen Moray. A long drive today, but what else is there to do? Final call whilst out, Sainsbury’s for my Christmas dinner tomorrow. I did enjoy a real ale or two and a dram before beddy time. Almost forgot, I picked up an interesting wee bottle today, Famous Grouse Smoky Black – (previously The Black Grouse) the smoky nature is due to the higher proportion of peated malts within the blend. The Famous Grouse’s Master Blender, Gordon Motion, explains that this is achieved by creating a peat fire underneath the malted barley whilst drying. Just by using a small amount of this peated barley intensifies the smoky taste in the blend and gives it a darker, russet colour, it also incorporates a rare version of Glenturret with an exceptional grain, into the blend. A lingering spiciness.

25 December; slowly opened the wee eyes and found the weather to be raining. Went down for breakfast, the pub/hotel was closed today but were serving breaky for its guests – all one of us. A Christmas day of travel, as I drove along the coast of Moray to Portsoy and all wee harbours in between, I especially enjoyed my time at Portknockie; a cliff-top village overlooking the Moray Firth midway between Aberdeen and Inverness. Early settlement is suggested by the remains from the Iron Age. Founded in 1677 it became a herring fishing port during the nineteenth century. At the height of the herring fishing boom about 100 sailing boats crowded its harbour. The present harbour dates from 1890 and, as late as 1929, it was still being used by up to 58 steam drifters. Today, Portknockie’s fishing fleet comprises ten boats, who land their fish at Scotland’s east and west coast ports with just five smaller boats locally landing creels and mackerel. I wanted to get a few photos of what I call, Devil’s Elbow, known locally as Bow Fiddle Rock – see photo. Christmas dinner? A picnic on the beach at Lossiemouth. Christmas night? In ma room, tv, grub and drinks.

26 December; homeward bound, driving south, as I arrived over the hills, past Dalwhinnie into Perthshire, the snow hit! Arrived home – with my Angels and Smoky Grouse intact, now that’s another story yet to be told.

Story and tour taken by Paul McLean, http://www.whiskytours.scot/ & http://www.mcleanscotland.com/

ONE YEAR ON AND MATURING WELL

70,000 visitors and 80,000 litres of spirit produced during The Lakes Distillery’s first year 

England’s largest whisky distillery raises a glass as the country’s newest single malt whisky reaches a major milestone in its maturation and is already surpassing the distiller’s high expectations.

The Lakes Distillery started production of its Lakes Single Malt in December 2014, the same month it officially opened its doors to visitors. The spirit, which will officially become whisky after three years maturing in oak casks, will be ready for drinking from spring 2018. Early feedback from the distillery’s team, which includes some of the UK’s most foremost whisky experts such as Dr Alan Rutherford and Chris Anderson, is The Lakes Single Malt is on track to be one of the finest.  ‘After only one year maturing, already it is smooth and sweet and very drinkable’ says Distillery Manager John Drake. ‘It is quite outstanding.’

Founder and managing director of The Lakes Distillery, Paul Currie, who founded and ran the award-winning Isle of Arran Distillers before opening England’s largest distillery, said: “This has been a phenomenal year for the business – the reaction from the drinks industry, the public and the local businesses in the North West has been fantastic.

“We feel honoured to have been awarded a string of accolades from different industry bodies in our first year. Our spirits have picked up awards at the IWSC and International Spirits Challenge (ISC), while the Bistro at The Distillery has been listed in Hardens and the Michelin Good Food Guide 2016 and picked up Open Table Diner’s Choice Awards several months in a row.”

In just 12 months, The Lakes Distillery has also become one of Cumbria’s leading tourist attractions welcoming more than 70,000 visitors through its doors. Meanwhile the acclaimed Bistro at The Lakes Distillery has built up a tremendous reputation being popular with tourists and locals, thanks to head chef Andrew Beaton, with renowned chef Terry Laybourne overseeing the bistro. The Lakes Distillery has also been named as a ‘Top 50 Cumbrian Icon’ in only its first year.

Paul continued: “We are situated in one of the most stunning places in the world which we think gives us a real edge and that, combined with the unique spirits we are producing, makes us a strong contender in this industry. Our aim is to ensure The Lakes Malt is recognised as one of the finest malt whiskies in the world, making us a challenger to Scotland.”

Already the creators of artisan spirits The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka, The Lakes Distillery offers a blended British Isles whisky called The ONE which is currently available in a limited edition sherry cask finished bottle, marking the distillery’s first birthday.

For more information on The Lakes Distillery, please visit http://www.lakesdistillery.com/ or for further details on The Bistro at The Lakes Distillery, please visit http://www.bistroatthedistillery.com/.

Picture caption 1: The Lakes Distillery team in the warehouse with managing director and founder Paul Currie with Nigel Mills Chairman of The Lakes Distillery (L-R) in the centre.

For more information on The Lakes Distillery, please visit www.lakesdistillery.com

For further details on The Bistro at The Lakes Distillery, please visit http://www.bistroatthedistillery.com/ 

• The Lakes Distillery, England’s newest craft distillery, opened to the public in December 2014. The Lakes Single Malt began production on 16th December 2014 and will be available late 2018, and its blended whisky from the British Isles, called The ONE, the Lakes Gin and the Lakes Vodka are available to buy now.
• Six miles from Keswick along the A66 or a similar distance from Cockermouth The Lakes Distillery is next to Bassenthwaite Lake, in an area of unimaginable beauty encircled by Cumbrian fells
• The experienced team behind the Lakes Distillery includes managing director Paul Currie who co-founded the Arran Distillery, Master Distiller Chris Anderson with over 30 years’ experience and Alan Rutherford a former Production Director of Diageo who renovated the historic buildings of an old Victorian Model Farm next to the famous river Derwent and are producing a new world-class blended whisky, single malt, gin and vodka.  The Lakes Distiller has John Drake, from Cumbria, as their Distillery Manager.  Tour and Retail Manager Brian Hill has worked in the Scotch whisky tourism industry for many year
• The water from the famous River Derwent, with its source high up in the fells, a team steeped in experience of producing spirits, and perfect conditions for distilling create a very special range of spirits
• National retailers Harvey Nichols and Majestic now stock The ONE and The Lakes Gin in all stores.  Fortnum & Mason also have The Lakes Gin on its shelves
• The Bistro at The Distillery is overseen by Michelin star chef Terry Laybourne and won OpenTable Diner’s Choice Award for three months running in Cumbria and Keswick.  The Bistro at the distillery employs local staff and offers indoor and outdoor dining options.  Early evening menu offers 2 courses for £15.95 and 3 courses for £18.95.

As a very special year at Ardbeg draws to a close, I think it’s fair to conclude that 2015 will go down in history as one of our finest.

This was the year we celebrated the past, present and future of Ardbeg. So join me for one last trip through time, as I share my favourite moments from the past 12 months…

We glimpsed the future…

On 30th May 2015, a record-breaking 15,000 Ardbeggians came together to celebrate Ardbeg Day.

Everywhere we looked, we found Committee Members embracing the spirit of Ardbeg’s bicentenary year. From robots, time travel tunnels and Shortie Circuit racing, to the uncorking of Ardbeg Perpetuum, it gave me tremendous pleasure to see the Committee celebrating in true Ardbeggian style.

Thanks to you, our 200th Anniversary marked not only the biggest Ardbeg Day ever, but quite possibly the best. You can re-live the highlights here

….and tasted the past

This year, Jackie and I had the privilege to host not one, but three special 200th Anniversary dinners here at the Distillery. These were truly momentous evenings, and we were delighted that so many Committee Members brought and shared rare expressions from over the years. My thanks to all those who made the journey to be with us.

…as the Ardbeg Haar rolled in

Committee Members across the world were among the first to experience the incredible Ardbeg Haar – a unique way to ‘sip’ a cloud of Ardbeg. We look forward to rolling it out to more Ardbeg Embassies next year. Take it from me, it’s an experience not to be mist!The final, final frontierExactly 3 years, 7 months and 27 days after Ardbeg spirit blasted into orbit, Dr Bill Lumsden published his highly anticipated White Paper on the mysteries of micro-gravity maturation. As our adventure in space came to an end, we launched one final, fleeting Committee bottling of Ardbeg Supernova.

If you haven’t already done so, I recommend watching our Final Frontier Film: the Pier Review, starring none other than Dr Bill Lumsden and two equally eminent peers.

In conclusion…

On behalf of everyone at the Distillery, I’d like to wish every one of you a happy new year, and thank you for making 2015 so momentous. How can we possibly top it next year? We’re just going to have to keep you in the dark a little longer…

Slàinte!

Micky Heads

Committee Chairman

(Please click HERE fro details on the Ardbeg Committee)

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

The world of whisky is an ever-changing place. From the popularity of blends, through to the rise of single malts and the growth of world whiskies, it’s been one heck of a tasty ride for whisky consumers this past century. In this Grand Tasting, Miss Whisky Founder & Editor, Alwynne Gwilt, returns for her third year to Victoria Whisky Festival, to take attendees through the thrilling history of whisky since the late 1800s. Learn about the art of blending, hear tales of Prohibition secrecy and success, discover how consumers turned their palates to single malt, and find out about the future of whisky. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Thursday January 14^th, 2016

www.victoriawhiskyfestival.com

Scotland

Glengoyne 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $299.99

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