The Dornoch Whisky Festival 2016 ends with a day jam packed with special distillery tours, meals and a golf match!

All events outside of Dornoch include return transport.

VIP tour of Glen Ord Maltings, Distillery and Teaninich: 10am This is a very special tour indeed! You will have a Personal Guided tour of Glen Ord Maltings and Glen Ord Distillery including the new tun room, still house and warehouses. You will then visit Teaninich, which is usually closed to the public, with the tour including the mash filter. This is followed by a draw and taste from warehouse casks at Glen Ord, taste of Singleton of Glen Ord 12, 15, 18 year old & Teaninich, a bottle of Singleton of Glen Ord 12 year old & bottle of Teaninich, £5 off voucher on any 70cl bottle, free glass. This exclusive VIP Tour is restricted to eight and is £250 per person

Whisky Festival Open Stableford Golf Competition: 10.30am & 12.00pm The Championship Course is rated 5th in the world and 1st in Scotland by Golf Digest and as you play over the classic links land that borders the Dornoch Firth, you will be awed by the wild magnificence of sea, sky, mountains and ancient, grass-covered dunes while having every shot you have in your bag tested. The golfer on the Championship Course is presented with 18 holes each of character and challenge that can be recalled to mind long after the round is completed. Tee times are available from 10:30am to 12:00 noon. Prizes for the best scores. Each competitor will receive a Glenmorangie Miniature, and a Royal Dornoch bag tag and Course Planner. The competition entry fee is £60. www.royaldornoch.com

Tour of Glen Ord Distillery and Maltings: 11am Join this ‘Grain to Glass’ tour, for a guided tour of Glen Ord Maltings, Distillery and Warehousing. You will then enjoy a tasting of Whisky from each distillery that the maltings produces malt for, The Singleton of Glen Ord, Teaninich, Clynelish & Talisker. The package includes a £5 off voucher on any 70cl bottle and a free glass. The cost of the tour is £90 per person.

Stillman’s Tour of Glen Ord Distillery: 11am This guided tour of the Glen Ord Distillery and warehouse is conducted by a Stillman and includes a tasting of the Singleton of Glen Ord 12, 15 & 18 year old. You will also receive a £5 off voucher on any 70cl bottle. This special tour is restricted to 10 people. £50 per person

Vintage Tour of Balblair Distillery: 11am Balblair is situated on the beautiful Dornoch Firth in the village of Edderton. It was featured in the film The Angel’s Share, directed by Ken Loach. Each Balblair Vintage captures the essence of its year in a bottle. They are only ever selected at the absolute peak of perfection and hand picked to represent the very best the Distillery has to offer. The Balblair Distillery tours are intimate and personal – an insight into their pursuit of producing the finest quality Vintage Malt Whisky, using methods that have changed very little over the years. The Vintage tour includes tasting 3 vintages. The cost is £40

Whisky Themed 3 Course Sunday Lunch: 12pm The Restaurant at Links House is building a reputation for its excellent  dining and will be offering a Whisky themed Sunday Lunch cooked by Head Chef Jon-Paul Saint. This will be a relaxed meal for 16 in luxurious surroundings and an ideal conclusion to the Whisky Festival, so book your table now! – £35 per person.

Sunday Carvery with Scottish Theme: 12pm The Scottish Themed Sunday carvery in the One Up restaurant provides a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy their selection of quality produce (much locally sourced) prepared and presented with care for your enjoyment. 2 courses from £11.95 12 noon to 3pm

Guided Archaeological tour at Ferintosh, the site of an 18th century distillery: 12.45pm The site of the Mulchraich Distillery has been surveyed and recorded by North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS) and the tour is led by Anne Coombs the former chair of NOSAS. Anne has been a part time guide with the Scottish Tourist Guide Association for nearly 20 years and worked in archaeology for 15 years before retiring. She now enjoys volunteering at local excavations and leading walks and discussions with NOSAS. For more information, click here Walking shoes/boots & waterproofs required for this trip. The cost is £25 per person, which includes transport, leaving the Carnegie Visitor Centre at 12:45 pm and returning at 4pm – journey time approx. 1 hour. Anne will provide background information during the journey and answer any queries you may have. Please contact Anne via the Presenter link below, with any queries.

Tour of Teaninich Distillery: 1pm Teaninich distillery was founded in 1817 with water from the Dairywell Spring. It has been going strong ever since and though is not as well known as it’s industrious neighbours at Dalmore and Glenmorangie, it produces a fantastic Malt Whisky which can equal any other. Teaninich is not normally open to the public so grab this chance to experience a guided tour of this very special distillery. During the tour you will get to see the mash filter, have a taste of Teaninich and also recieve a £5 off voucher on any 70cl bottle. This exclusive tour is restricted to ten people and the cost of £80

VIP The Brora Experience: 1pm Clynelish  will be exclusively offering a viewing of Old Brora Distillery which was previously closed to the public and warehouse tour. The VIP Brora Experience Tour is a private extended guided tour of the Brora Distillery with tasting. Tasting includes Clynelish Distillery Only Bottling, Clynelish Select Reserve, Special Release Brora 2013 and Brora 2014. As the distillery is normally closed at the weekend, those on the Dornoch Whisky Festival tour be the only ones on site, making this an exclusive event and you will be given the chance to taste some rare malts not available on the standard VIP tour to compliment the experience! The cost of this exclusive tour is £160 per person.  There is a £5 discount off the purchase of any one 70cl bottle of single malt.

Tasting of Local Malts: 3pm What could be better than a Sunday afternoon tour of the local malts at the oldest established hotel in Dornoch? The Eagle is a friendly and relaxing hotel. Enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon in their cosy bar tasting malts from across the local area at a cost of only £15 per person.

Old and Rare Balblair Tasting: 8.30pm Join the Simon and Phil Thompson whilst they guide you in a tasting of old, rare and vintage Balblair Whiskies at the Dornoch Castle Hotel.

• Balblair 1964 20 Year Old Connoisseurs Choice for ‘Highland Fabricators’
• Balblair 1969 31 Year Old ‘Highland Selection’
• Balblair 1973 21 Year Old ‘G&M Centenary’
• Balblair 1975 22 Year Old ‘First Cask Series’ Cask 7283
• Balblair 1980 9 Year Old ‘SMWS 70.2 61.3% abv’
• Balblair 1988 21 Year Old ‘Own Bottling Single Cask 60.7% abv’

The cost of the old and rare Balblair whisky tasting is £60 per person, so please book now to reserve your place today!

ONE WEEK WHISKY SALE

We are offering a $10.00 discount PER ITEM* that you order from our online store when your total order is greater than $100.00 until the evening of Wednesday October 19th. Just enter the coupon code 10%off at checkout to receive great savings. Please check out: www.whiskyshopusa.com

The Whisky Shop 360 Sutter Street

San Francisco, CA, 94108

415 989-1030   www.whiskyshopusa.com

Glenrothes 1971 MacPhail’s Collection

$507.78 SHOP NOW >

Glenrothes 1971 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whiskey. Matured in 1st fill Sherry butt and refill American casks bottled 2015 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Macphail’s Collection series. Nose: Reminiscent of Christmas cake – rich fruits with some fresh orange peel notes and a hint of chocolate. Taste: Underlying sweetness, fresh pear notes and a subtle almond in the background. Glenrothes Distillery was established in the narrow valley of the Rothes Burn on the west side of Rothes in the Speyside whiskey region by James Stuart & Co. in 1878. This is a large malt whiskey distillery owned by Berry Bros & Rudd of London, with eighteen washbacks, ten copper stills singing in their own mighty cathedral and has retained its traditional pagoda roof. Popular distillery releases include Glenrothes 1995, 1998 and Glenrothes Peated.

CHIVAS REGAL ULTIS: THE ESSENCE OF CHIVAS REGAL

Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky, has launched Chivas Regal Ultis; the first blended malt Scotch whisky from the House of Chivas.

Capturing the true essence of Chivas Regal, Chivas Regal Ultis uses only five of Chivas Regal’s most precious, signature single malts from Speyside, Scotland, and represents the style and diversity of this prestigious, world-renowned whisky region.
The latest release has been crafted with hand-selected malts from Tormore, Longmorn, Strathisla, Allt A’Bhainne and Braeval, presenting complex flavours, a golden hue and a commanding rich aroma. Out of millions of casks in inventory at Chivas Brothers, less than 1% are used to create Chivas Regal Ultis, with the expert blending team individually nosing and selecting those of the highest quality to craft the blend; a traditional method of hand-selection that is no longer standard in the Scotch whisky industry today.
Since 1909, only five men have ever mastered the iconic Chivas Regal house style, and Chivas Regal Ultis pays tribute to the strength of vision, commitment and mastery of Master Blenders; Charles Howard, Charles Julian, Allan Baillie, Jimmy Lang and of Custodian Master Blender, Colin Scott.

The luxurious Chivas Regal Ultis bottle mirrors the precious whisky within and is designed to provide impactful on-shelf stand-out with a slender shape and contemporary crest in gold champagne. In honour of the Chivas Regal Master Blenders and representing the five signature malts within, the bottle features a unique pen-clip closure which is etched with five rings, and a striking placement of the Roman numeral figure for five on the highly crafted base and within the textured crest label.

Colin Scott, Chivas Regal Custodian Master Blender, comments: “I am honoured to have been one of only five Master Blenders for Chivas Regal, and I believe that Chivas Regal Ultis represents the true essence of this iconic Scotch whisky. With the release of Chivas Regal Ultis, only the most precious single malts from five signature Speyside distilleries have been selected to craft this luxury blended malt whisky from the House of Chivas.”

“The crystalline freshness of Tormore shines through along with the contrasting, hint of spicy warmth present in Allt A’Bhainne, while the Longmorn single malt adds balance to the blend. The floral style of Braeval complements the fruity sweetness of Strathisla to create a complex and rich blended malt Scotch whisky. Chivas Regal Ultis is a blend that draws on expertise that has been handed down throughout the centuries and it will delight whisky connoisseurs around the world.”

Richard Black, Chivas Regal Global Brand Director, adds: “To launch the first blended malt Scotch whisky from the House of Chivas is truly a momentous occasion. Chivas Regal Ultis represents the essence of Chivas Regal and is a fitting tribute to our legendary craftsmen of the past, with recognition of the luxury quality of our Scotch whisky portfolio. Chivas Regal Ultis is set to appeal to discerning drinkers looking to impress at special occasions as well as Scotch whisky aficionados searching for their next luxury whisky experience.”

Chivas Regal Ultis will be launching globally in all major retailers and travel retail from October 2016 at a RRP of USD$200.

About Chivas Regal
Launched in 1909, Chivas Regal is the world’s first luxury whisky and is considered to be a timeless classic, renowned for its benchmark quality and taste, style, substance and exclusivity. A truly global brand, Chivas Regal has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide and today sells 4.5 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. With generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity at the heart of Chivas Regal, the brand launched its successful Win the Right Way campaign in 2014, which aims to inspire a new generation whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others. The Chivas Regal range includes Chivas 12, Chivas 18, Chivas 25 and the Global Travel Retail exclusive, Chivas Brothers Blend. In October 2014, Chivas Regal announced the addition of a fifth permanent expression in the Chivas Regal family, Chivas Regal Extra, a new blend with a unique richness derived from selective maturation in rare ex-sherry casks. In 2015, the iconic brand welcomed the pinnacle of the range with the introduction of the new ultra-prestige blend, Chivas Regal The Icon.
www.chivas.com

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
www.chivasbrothers.com
@ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier‐ Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
www.pernod-ricard.com

We pride ourselves in treading the balance between rich tradition and daring innovation, and we’ve decided to take this ideology to the next level. 

Please join us in welcoming to America the Ohishi Japanese Whiskies! 

Ohishi Brandy Cask Whisky is a marriage of just a few casks of whisky that have been matured in ex-brandy barrels. The brandy casks give an elegance of soft oak, vanilla, pineapple and a touch of oxidation and rancio that compliments the silkiness of the rice in a very complex manner.

Ohishi Single Sherry Cask Whisky distilled from rice and is matured fully in fresh Sherry Casks. Each cask is hand selected by the master distiller Oishi-san and represents the beauty of light and dark juxtaposition that is the soft silky texture of rice whisky synchronized with the massive sherry influence of the cask. Big raisins, figs, and oak spice cover the nose and palate. Like sherry cask scotch whisky, but uniquely its own in mouth feel and aroma.

Ohishi is the closest distillery to the Kuma River, one of the three fastest flowing in Japan, renowned for its superb water quality. The Distillery is blessed with fertile soil and clear underground water, elements of an environment in which it upholds tradition but is always open to experimenting with new approaches. In addition to mochi rice from Kumamoto, they also use gohyakumanishi which is grown with an organic farming method that involves koi carp to control weeds in paddy fields.

With about 1200 Sherry and Brandy casks, Ohishi diligently matures its products over a long stretch of time until the whisky has reached a proper balance of oak and sherry influence. 

We are very proud of representing these two whiskies and hope you are just as excited as we are! Feel free to reach out for more information and to get your hands on this stunning new arrival. 

RRP $74.99

Sam & the GRC Imports Team

sam@grcimports.com

Following the success of the London Sessions and the New York Sessions, October 2016 will see the first ever installment in Scotland, adding a third city to the London Sessions map.

The first of its kind in the drinks industry, The London Sessions are the brain child of Rebekkah Dooley, a drinks industry professional with over 12 years experience in the hospitality industry who wanted to re-position “education” within the bar world.  Set up as a series of thought provoking seminars with the industry’s most respected professionals, over 24 sessions have taken place since the first one in summer 2015.

With the support of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, the Glasgow Sessions will see three inspirational speakers from the world of drinks take the stage at St Luke’s Music and Arts venue.

It’s only fitting that the day would kick off with a Scotsman…  One of Europe’s most acclaimed bartenders and owner of world-renowned Edinburgh venues; The Tales of the Cocktail “Best Restaurant Bar” The Bon Vivant, El Cartel and Devil’s Advocate, Stuart McCluskey will kick off proceedings with a session focusing on entrepreneurialism.

Next up, the formidable Erik Lorincz Head Bartender at The American Bar at The Savoy and multiple Tales of Cocktail award winner; there is nothing about mixology and making drinks that defy expectations this man doesn’t know. Hence, his session will be all around creativity.

Finally, the session will end on a high, with a talk around quality, from non other than Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett. Jeff is the seventh master distiller and has held the coveted position since 2008, overseeing the quality and consistency of the world’s biggest premium whiskey brand.

http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a8de9ec15d715c946cbb77b14&id=39afe10ed0&e=0ccfbdb7ab

RSVP: Rebekkah@RebekkahDooley.com

October Outturn brings a colourful collection of vibrant and lively drams that dance across the tongue. Taste and explore 7 new single casks that strike dramatically at the senses.  Beautifully balanced but powerful, expect zingy zest, lip-smacking sweetness and spice, and intense, super smoke.

CASK No. 55.24  CHERRY PIE MOONSHINE

20 years old; 2nd fill hogshead; 52.7%; Spicy & sweet

Evocative aromas of late summer cornfields in the Midwest as Tom Sawyer begins to whitewash a fence. The taste neat was that of corn on the cob or homemade blackcurrant jam. Water added root beer and ‘cherry pie moonshine’.

CASK No. C1  NECTAR CÉLESTE

XO years old; french oak barrel; 48.4%; Spicy & sweet

Magical intensity on the nose; wood smouldering through a magnifying glass, burning incense as well as curled-up treacle scones. The taste was creamy, sweet with a teasing spiciness. Add a drop of water; you might just get ‘un petit coin de paradis’.  The Society’s very first Cognac!

CASK No. 9.88  A HEART STARTER

25 years old; refill butt; 55.3%; Spicy & dry

Dry and unusually smoky: Brazil nuts, over-steeped jasmine tea, mushrooms, high strength cocoa powder, treacle toffee. Some liquorice, salted caramel, figs, dark chocolate, coffee and burnt toast (with jam) on the palate. Very different from the familiar light-weight proprietary bottlings.

CASK No. 128.6  RUMBLING, REVERBERATING RESONANCES

7 years old; 1st fill Madeira hogshead; 59.9%; Spicy & sweet

Black Forest cherry cake, cinder toffee, dried dates, tobacco and furniture restoration workshops. Then, old books in libraries, cherry brandy, Christmas pudding and after-dinner chocolate mints. Perfectly delicious and mightily intriguing, this whisky emerged from the cask with a natural haze.

CASK No. 4.217  NORDIC NOSH

19 years old; refill hogshead; 53.9%; Oily & coastal

Aromas of smoked mackerel salad, sweet cured marinated herring and potato salad with sour cream, whilst on the palate Swedish meatballs, dry-cured smoked ham and summertime sweet pickles. Diluted, a vegetarian kebab skewer and in the finish slightly burnt marshmallows.

CASK No. 66.82  GRITTY TURNED PRETTY

17 years old; refill gorda; 57.5%; Deep, rich and dried fruits

A heavily Sherry-fed fruit cake and a roast leg of lamb, before we tasted God’s wrath in the form of smoke, embers and brimstone. Even with a liberal amount of water it’s still massive.  Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

CASK No. 10.90  MUCKLE, MASSIVE INTENSITY OF SMOKE

9 years old; refill hogshead; 64.1%; Heavily peated

The nose hurls a wave of peat-smoke and smouldering sawdust – surfing that wave are grilled prawns and a wet dog smoking a cigar. The breath-taking palate has tar, smoke and ash, barbecued scallops, pork crackling, liquorice, toffee and school cagoules.

SMWS Canada

It’s that time of year again when Diageo unleash their annual Special Releases, which, as usual, are all limited editions and tend to sell out pretty quickly. At the time of writing this newsletter we still have stocks of everything except the Port Ellen release so in compensation we have listed an amazing value for money Port Ellen bottled by our friends at Gordon & Macphail.

Hopefully next week we will be able to reveal the details of our new Single Cask Casino Series bottlings which are pretty special to say the least. Simply click on each bottle image to be taken to our website where further in-depth information will be provided for each bottle. Why not pay us a visit at our Retail Store in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter? To take a virtual walk around our store please click here

Until next time Jason Kirby

TWO BOURBONS FROM BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY AWARDED DOUBLE GOLD AT 2016 NEW YORK WORLD WINE AND SPIRITS COMPEITION 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Oct. 4, 2016) –The results from the 2016 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition are in, and Barton 1792 Distillery received two double gold medals for its 1792 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel and Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. In total 1792 received four medals from the competition.

This year, the number of brand entries increased by 50 percent and NYWWSC reported that the quality of the brands ranked superior.

1792 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel and Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey each received the highest honor, the double gold medal. The double gold medal is given only if every judge awards a gold medal to the product.

Other Barton 1792 Distillery products recognized by the NYWWSC included 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey received a gold medal and Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey received a silver medal.

This competition is associated with the Triple Crown of Competitions (The San Francisco International Wine Competition and The San Francisco World Spirits Competition), and is in its sixth year.  The NYWWSC aims to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

The NYWWSC is judged by a panel of the spirit industry’s most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners, who rate each spirit on a 100-point scale

Results from the 2016 New York World Wine and Spirits Competition can be found at www.nyworldwineandspiritscompetition.com/. 

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com/.

THREE SAZERAC CANADIAN WHISKIES AWARDED SILVER MEDALS AT

2016 NEW YORK WORLD WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION 

NEW ORLEANS, lA.  (Oct. 5, 2016) – Results are in, and this year’s New York World Wine & Spirits Competition concludes that three Canadian whiskies from the Sazerac Company were awarded silver medals.

The honorable silver medals were presented to Sazerac’s Caribou Crossing Single Barrel, Rich & Rare Reserve, and Legacy Canadian Whisky.

“We are fortunate to be able to compete against such prestigious brands at the NYWWSC,” Kevin Richards, marketing director of whiskies and specialty brands, said. “We are very thankful for the awards and the opportunity to showcase our brands each year.”

The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition is named one of the largest competitions for the retail beverage industry. The competition attracts top professional judges from a broad spectrum of wine and spirits expertise. Competition participants continue to increase each year, as well as the number of top medal winners.

Complete results of the 2016 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition are available at www.nyworldwineandspiritscompetition.com/.

About the Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest American family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Lewiston, Maine; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Montreal Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit www.sazerac.com/.