Ralfy introduces a sweeter speyside malt with Ralfy Review 633 – Cragganmore single malt 12yo @40%vol

ARDBEG LAUNCHES KELPIE TO CELEBRATE ARDBEG DAY  

Ardbeg is set to bring Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt to a close on Ardbeg Day, the global celebration of the single malt’s untamed spirit.

Ardbeg Day falls on Saturday, 3^rd June 2017.  This year, in homage to the sea that surrounds the Distillery’s remote Scottish island home, Ardbeg will again release a celebratory Limited Edition expression. Ardbeg Kelpie is the first Ardbeg to be matured in Virgin Black Sea oak casks.  Renowned for the deep flavours that they impart and rarely used in whisky making – these casks bring a distinct intensity to the world’s smokiest, peatiest Islay malt whisky.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation and Whisky Stocks, in his continuing search for intriguing casks, was inspired by the depth of flavour imparted by the Black Sea casks. Grown and seasoned in the Adyghe Republic, which leads down to the Black Sea coast, these casks impart incredibly deep flavours.

The whisky was then married with hallmark Ardbeg, matured in ex-bourbon barrels, to amplify Ardbeg’s characteristic style and create a whisky of incredible depth.

As the festivities begin on Islay, Ardbeg’s loyal following – the Ardbeg Committee – and their friends across the world will be invited to join underwater-themed events which pay tribute to the whisky’s namesake – the kelpie, this legendary water demon is said to lurk in the Atlantic Ocean off Islay’s shores.

Distillery Manager Michael (Mickey) Heads said: “Ardbeggians and their smoky malt friends will have the chance to celebrate with a dram or two of Ardbeg Kelpie.  With a heart matured in Black Sea casks, this whisky’s extraordinary depth and its waves of salty seaweed and tarry rope, hint at what might be hiding under the sea…”

“For now, the finer details of our plans for will remain a closely guarded secret, but rest assured Ardbeg Day 2017 will be another legendary worldwide celebration of all things Ardbeg.” 

Ardbeg’s general release of Kelpie at 46% ABV, launches on Ardbeg Day (3^rd June), the expression will be available to purchase from Ardbeg Embassies* for a two week exclusive period. Kelpie will then be available at Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists and department stores with a RRP of £98.00.

The Committee only release of Kelpie at 51.7% ABV will be made available on 16^th March 2017 at 9.00AM, exclusively from www.ardbeg.com/

Ardbeg Day will be celebrated at the distillery on Saturday 3^rd June 2017 and at participating Ardbeg Embassies around the world. 

Ardbeg Kelpie is non-chill filtered for extra texture and mouthfeel.

#ardbeg #untamed #islay

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Ardbeg Kelpie tasting notes at 46% ABV: 

Colour:                 Burnished gold

Aroma:                 A wonderful, intense, ‘dancing’ nose, with lots of different, intertwined aromas – powerful, oily peat, dark chocolate, smoked fish, hints of seaweed, and a curious, sharp herbal note. Waves of spicy black pepper.

A splash of water brings forth some classic Ardbeg notes, such as creamy coffee, smoked fudge and pine resin.  Even some hints of smoked coconut.

Taste:                    A peppery mouthfeel is followed by a crescendo of rich flavours.  Treacle toffee, Turkish coffee, smoky bacon and lots of dark, dark chocolate.  A curious burst of peachy, estery fruit, hickory wood, clove oil and a suggestion of black olives.

Finish:                  Seemingly lasting forever, with deep, deep, almost subterranean flavours of clove, tar, and rich toffee.

Ardbeg Day:

Every year, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music takes place in May or June on Ardbeg’s island home.  On the Festival’s final Saturday, Ardbeg Day, the Distillery traditionally throws open its doors to welcome fans from all over the world.  In 2012 Ardbeg Day became a global event, enabling the whisky’s passionate international following to take part in a worldwide celebration of all things Ardbeg in their own country.  Recent Ardbeg Day themes have included the Islay-limpics and the Peat Football World Cup, while in 2015, Ardbeg Day celebrated the single malt’s 200th anniversary by looking forward 200 years to a retro-futuristic version of Islay in 2215.  For 2016, Ardbeg Day became Ardbeg Night, as fans at 215 events across the globe recalled Islay’s dark past as a smugglers’ haunt.

Ardbeg Kelpie:

Ardbeg Kelpie is a limited-edition bottling created to celebrate Ardbeg Day 2017.  It is the Distillery’s first whisky with a heart matured in virgin oak from the Black Sea coast.  Renowned for imparting incredibly deep flavour notes, only a handful of whiskies have ever been matured in these Black Sea casks.  Married with hallmark ex-bourbon Ardbeg, it results in a whisky of incredible depth, which tells of its ties to the Black Sea and the waves of flavour its casks have created. 

The kelpie:

Situated on the shore of Islay’s southernmost coast, the Ardbeg Distillery has always held a deep connection to the sea – and those who live nearby have passed down through generations the stories of mysterious beasts said to live beneath the waves.  Among the most terrifying of these is the kelpie – a Scottish shape-shifting water spirit, rumoured to take the form of a horse or a bull and prey on unwitting travellers.  Legend has it that long ago, a farmer walking near Ardbeg’s shoreline was almost dragged to sea by a water bull.  Managing to overcome and rope the creature, he locked it in a barn where it cried for mercy.  At dusk, the farmer’s daughter was chased by a water horse seeking revenge for its kin.  The terrified girl ran to the barn and released the water bull, whereupon the malevolent beasts took flight back to the sea.

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg is The Ultimate Islay Single Malt Whisky.  Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.  Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction.  Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.  

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”.  Today there are more than 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in more than 130 countries.  Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards:

Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ twice by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible (2008, 2009) and has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Top of the Cask 

Independent, Family-owned Distillers support Traditional Skills as Apprentice Coopers Graduate 

Independent, family-owned distillers William Grant & Sons has pledged its commitment to continuing traditional skills with plans to recruit two new apprentice coopers for its Girvan Distillery this year.

The promise comes after the first two apprentice coopers in 24 years passed their Trade Test at the Girvan Distillery. Coopering is an ancient trade dating back to Roman times and is a physical job that requires great precision.

Stewart Millarvie (19) and Fraser Henderson (21) had completed three years and two months of their four-year apprenticeship when they passed their Trade Test in February 2017.

Two experts from the National Cooperage Federation did the final assessment. Fraser and Stewart will now complete their final ten months adjusting to their future work environment.

Girvan site leader Stuart Watts said: “Traditional skills are at the heart of the continuing success of our business. Our company has two cooperages, one in Girvan for our Grant’s whisky and another in Dufftown, home of Glenfiddich and The Balvenie single malts.

“The quality of the wood and casks used in whisky maturation is critical to the final characteristics of the spirit and we’re committed to retaining our own coopers to ensure our exacting standards are consistently met.”

The company’s latest graduate coopers are both from Girvan and joined the Distillery four years ago.

Fraser Henderson said: “We learned all our skills from our mentor, Paul Ross, who has worked for the company for 29 years.  As well as learning how to repair casks and make them, we work with different cask types from miniatures to 2,000 litre tuns.”

Stewart Millarvie (19) added: “We feel honoured to be able to carry on this traditional skill. To pass this stage of our training we had to sit a practical test for the National Cooperage Federation.

“It was bit nerve racking, but after four years of training we were ready for the challenge and we’re both delighted that we passed!”

John Gaffney is the Secretary and Treasurer of the National Cooperage Federation, which monitors the progress of apprentices through their four years and offers help and advice when it’s required.

John – who’s known Fraser and Stewart since they started their apprenticeship – is delighted at the news:

“I understand that they passed with flying colours, which is a fine testimonial to their tutor. It also offers up encouragement to the other apprentices who may be following along after them.”

There are currently 182 coopers and 49 apprentices in training in the UK – the highest number in 14 years.

John added: “We’re pleased to work with William Grant & Sons, both at Girvan and Glenfiddich, who are playing an active part in the work and duties of The National Cooperage Federation. This is all good news for the trade and will help it to prosper for the foreseeable future.”

William Grant & Sons will begin the search for its two new apprentices later this year. The vacancies will appear on the company’s website.

Stuart Watts explained: “Most young people have no idea what a cooper does, let alone consider becoming one. It can offer a very rewarding career and the fact that one of our Girvan coopers, Brian McKenzie, has been with us for 47 years shows it really can be a job for life. At William Grant & Sons we believe that combining traditional age-old whisky making skills with the latest technological advances will enable us to build upon our reputation for producing world-class spirits for generations to come.”

Coopering facts and figures 

• The Distiller’s Girvan cooperage was established in 1963 to provide casks primarily for maturing Grant’s whisky.
• The company currently employs eight coopers and four apprentices at its Girvan cooperage and a further eight at its Dufftown cooperage.
• On average a cooper can check and rebuild a cask in under thirty minutes and works on between 20 and 22 casks a day.
• A barrel contains, on average, 24 to 30 staves, two ends and six steel hoops. It is held together by pressure alone. There are no nails, screws or glue – just the skill of the cooper to get every joint exactly right to contain the spirit within.
• Nowadays casks are mainly used for maturing whisky, beer and rum. But in the past they were also used to transport all manner of goods around the world, for example fish, butter and salt.

Damn what a good dram this is…”

Last week, we released 170 limited edition, very special bottles of The Glenturret Jamieson’s Jigger Edition. At Glenturret, we wanted to celebrate Michael and his passion and dedication for his craft, and we want you to celebrate with us. Pick up your bottle of this limited edition, 29-year-old whisky now.

CLICK TO BUY

There’s still some special numbers available…

Special numbers: £395

18, 20, 21, 30, 40, 60, 70, 80, 88, 90, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160

General numbers: £295

TASTING NOTES

Appearance: Light straw

Aroma: Cedarwood, camphor, eucalyptus and lavender infused honey

Taste: Sweet vanilla, creme brulee with hint of nutmeg

Finish: Medium sweet lingering woody and caramel

<>FIND OUT MORE HERE…<

KEENS TASTING

Alternative Masters Series Winter 2017

Join us for a tasting featuring “The Alternative Masters” of wine and spirits

as chosen by another of America’s foremost spirits authorities,

Spike McClure, Senior Master of Whisky.

Monday, March 27th, 7:00 p.m.

THE BLIND TRUTH 

Please join us to unravel the mysteries of how both age and barrel finishes affect and perfect the personalities of single malts.

Let the Keeper of the Quaich and credentialed distiller, Spike McClure lead you through a blind tasting of:

                    Singleton 12 Year Old vs 18 Year Old              

Mortlach Rare Old vs. 18 Year Old

   Lagavulin 8 Year Old  vs 16 Year Old

Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition vs 15yo

 $95 per person For reservations call Keens Steakhouse (212) 947-3636 – Please register early as we expect this event to sell out –

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

Please fax back to us at (212) 714-1103

or email to banquets@keens.com

For further information

please visit our Upcoming Events page

Or Call (212) 947-3636.

It’s that special time of year everyone! Perhaps the most exciting day of the Scotch whisky drinker’s schedule is the annual release of Ardbeg’s new committee bottling, a tradition at K&L that never gets old. We never know for sure what new concoction Ardbeg’s head of whisky creation Dr. Bill Lumsden will dream up, but that’s part of what makes the anticipation so much fun! The 2017 Ardbeg Committee Release is called “Kelpie” and it’s named after a mythical beast from the Corryvreckan, but it also alludes to the idea of “kelp” or seaweed. Aged in Russian oak barrels made from Adygea, near Georgia along the Black Sea, the whisky exudes a whirlwind of dark fudge, earthy peat, and of course a healthy dollop of seaweed and salt water flavors.

As if one new release from Dr. Bill Lumsden wasn’t exciting enough, we’re pleased to announce that Ardbeg’s sister distillery Glenmorangie has also allocated its new limited release for 2017 on the same day! The new Glenmorangie “Bacalta,” a Madeira-finished delight that captures the richness and the decadence of the supple Malmsey dessert wine. For those of you who enjoy the “Nectar d’Or” expression finished in Sauternes, the “Bacalta” dials that experience up just a bit, finishing with a candied note that’s as hedonistic as it is heavenly.

Glenmorangie “Bacalta” (750ml) $109.99

A RARE RELEASE OF A QUIXOTIC BLEND FROM HIGH WEST

High West’s latest batch of Bourye, a marriage of Bourbon and rye adorned with the elusive jackalope – a cross between a jack rabbit and an antelope, is back for another limited run. The Park City, Utah outpost only releases the Bourye when they have sufficient quantities of the necessary ingredients, which are getting more and more difficult to secure in today’s market. This latest batch is bottled at 46% ABV and consists of rye and Bourbon whiskies aged 10 to 14 years from MGP Distillery in Indiana, formerly known as LDI and Seagrams. Considering that a simple ten year old American rye whiskey seems to be worth its weight in gold, the fact that High West has included casks of a much older heritage is no simple task. The balance between both the richness of the Bourbon and the spiciness of the rye is quite wonderful here. There are no rough edges, the flavors meander from mellow oak to toasted with vanilla, all with a backbone of peppery rye goodness. We never have the Bourye in stock for long and we’re always handling questions about when we’ll get more. David Perkins continues to captivate us with his American whiskey blends, now considered the gold standard of the industry.

High West Bourye Bourbon/Rye Whiskey (750ml) $69.99

WEST CORK FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH

The West Cork distillery started as a pet project by John O’ Connell, Denis McCarthy and Ger McCarthy in 2003 in Union Hall, West Cork. In 2013 after much expansion WCD moved to a larger distillery in Skibbereen, West Cork where it now resides. It now operates as only one of the few independent distilleries in Ireland. A trio of limited 12 year old releases has just trickled into the U.S. and we’ve been told this will be it as far as inventory until late in 2018. Each finished in a different type of cask (port, sherry, and rum), the soft and creamy Irish whisky takes on just a bit of the character from the barrel it was matured in.

West Cork 12yr “Rum Cask Finish” Limited Edition Single Malt Irish Whiskey $59.99 The rum cask release has a creamy and textural palate of sweet grains with just a bit of that sweet molasses that you would associate with a Caribbean rum.

West Cork 12yr “Port Cask Finish” Limited Edition Single Malt Irish Whiskey $59.99 The port cask release offers a subtle tinge of red fruit and sweet dessert flavor on the finish, but the influence is very delicate and refined.

West Cork 12yr “Sherry Cask Finish” Limited Edition Single Malt Irish Whiskey $59.99 The sherry cask finish takes the subtle sweetness of Oloroso and melds it into the easy-drinking character of the whisky, adding just a bit of chewy richness to the soft vanilla.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mWp3BH1nM4

GlenDronach 1992 – 22 Year Old Single Cask

Such an awesome distillery and such an awesome selection of casks and standard releases. The special releases are fairly spectacular in their own right as well. This one is natural cask strength, natural colour, non-chill filtered and rather special to me. After having picked it up on a spectacular trip up to some of my friends and I’s favourite distilleries, it will always hold memories of camping in forests north of Inverness and all of the laughter that accompanied every moment. That’s enough of me rabbiting on about my whimsical view of this bottle, check out the review and tell me what you all think, especially if you happen to have tried whisky from this particular single cask! Or just a particularity special whisky to yourselves. Enjoy! Also, i gave this whisky both an 8.5 and an 8, let’s just call it an 8, it was the end of a very long but great day of filming.

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A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY AWARDED for the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

John J. Bowman Single Barrel Takes Honors

“WORLD’S BEST BOURBON” 

            Fredericksburg, VIRGINIA (March 8, 2017) – For the second year in a row A. Smith Bowman Distillery was awarded the honor of “World’s Best Bourbon” by Whisky Magazine. However, this year’s award was given to a different A. Smith Bowman bourbon, and was presented to John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The Distillery’s Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon was awarded “World’s Best Bourbon” in 2016.

           The Distillery received this award Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017 at the Whisky Magazine Awards America presentation in New York City where Master Distiller Brian Prewitt accepted the award.

            “We could not be more excited to receive this honor for the second year in a row,” Prewitt said. “For our small distillery in Virginia, receiving the title of “World’s Best Bourbon” two years in a row for two different bourbons is something truly special for us. We’re very thankful for this recognition.”

            Whiskies in each category were subject to rigorous blind taste testing to determine the very best.

            For more information about the World Whiskies Awards visit www.worldwhiskiesawards.com/.

About A. Smith Bowman

1. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  In response to the rapid rise of taxes in Northern Virginia, the Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

           As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com/.

Glen Scotia offers dinner and a dram with Charles MacLean  

Dinner and a dram with world famous whisky writer Charles MacLean is on the menu for a handful of lucky Scotch enthusiasts at this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival.

Campbeltown, once regarded as the “Victorian Whisky Capital of the World”, is one of Scotland’s five malt producing regions. The independent Glen Scotia distillery, founded in 1832, is one of three surviving distilleries located in the town.

The exclusive event, organised by Glen Scotia, kicks off this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival and will also introduce the Limited Edition Glen Scotia 2017 Campbeltown Festival Bottling.

The cask was hand-picked by a panel including Iain McAlistair, distillery manager at Glen Scotia, and Charles MacLean, regarded as one of the industry’s foremost experts, from casks matured in the distillery’s refurbished dunnage warehouse, which dates from the 1830s. Just over 200 bottles of the Limited Edition malt are available.

The Glen Scotia Whisky Dinner takes place at Ardshiel Hotel on Tuesday 23rd May. The hotel’s award-winning whisky bar is acknowledged as one of the best in the industry and is thought to have the world’s largest selection of single malts, with over 700 varieties stocked.

The ticketed event, for 55 guests, will feature the finest local foods, including seafood from local producers and locally sourced venison. Each course of the dinner will be accompanied by a specially selected Glen Scotia dram and attendees will receive their bottle of the 2017 Campbeltown Festival whisky a day before general release.

Following the meal guests will have the opportunity to question author Charles MacLean, who has been researching and writing about whisky for over 35 years, conducting talks and tastings internationally.

Iain McAllister, Glen Scotia distillery manager, said: “It is a real honour to have Charles MacLean leading our first Glen Scotia Whisky Dinner, which also kicks off this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival.

“His participation is testament to how iconic the Campbeltown region is to the whisky world. One of the original five Scotch regions, Campbeltown was the epicentre of whisky making in the Victorian era and was known for its distinctive character and maritime influences.

“Our Whisky Dinner offers a chance to get to know Glen Scotia better and savour the wonderful whisky experience that is available here in Campbeltown.”

Charles MacLean said: “Campbeltown and Glen Scotia are undergoing a renaissance. Its people have a real passion for the place and its distilleries, and the fantastic work being done by Iain and the wider team at Glen Scotia is part of the spark that is reigniting the town.

“Whisky fans who attend the Whisky Dinner will have a chance to discover for themselves the fine malts that are being produced at Glen Scotia and gain a unique insight into why Campbeltown is such an important part of Scotland’s whisky map.”

Tickets are available from glenscotiashop@lochlomondgroup.com at a cost £150 including a bottle of the Limited Edition Glen Scotia 2017 Campbeltown Festival Whisky.

SECOND WAVE

In another colourful explosion of flavour, we’ve just released a second wave of dazzling drams for March online. Taste and explore eight fresh and vibrant single casks from a broad range of flavour profiles. Each of these new whiskies comes in our striking new look bottle.

SHOP NEW RELEASES NOW

Browse on smws.com

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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!

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