Last-minute dash for tickets at Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Ever fancied learning how to create your own signature whisky cocktails? How about experiencing a traditional Scottish ceilidh with a dram in hand? Or perhaps you want to learn to blend whisky like a pro?

Whatever whisky-themed activity tickles your tastebuds, you can do it all – and a whole lot more – at the world-renowned Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival when it kicks off later this month.

Tickets have been in high demand since going on sale earlier this year but with almost 500 events on the programme, there are still plenty of opportunities to revel in the five-day celebration of Scotland’s national drink.

Thousands of people – many of them travelling from overseas – will descend on the region from April 27 to May 1 to attend the Festival, which is recognised as being one of the best events of its kind.

Festival manager Pery Zakeri says, “Tickets for some of the key events – particularly the very exclusive behind the scenes tours at distilleries not usually open to the public – sold out within a matter of hours.

“There has been phenomenal demand for tickets, but we don’t want people to think that there are no tickets left. Whether visitors want to sample excellent whiskies, enjoy local food or take part in some of the more unusual events on the programme, there is still plenty of availability.

“All the most up to date information about ticket availability is on the website at www.spiritofspeyside.com and for those who are planning a last-minute getaway, there is also information about accommodation.”

There will be the chance to taste exclusive cask strength drams from Chivas Brothers on April 30, in the company of whisky royalty. Acclaimed whisky writers Ian Buxton and Ian Wisniewski will host the event at The Glenlivet and will be sharing their knowledge about distilleries and drams.

This will be a great event for both whisky experts and novices, as they will also give tips on how to get the most out of whisky tasting. Tickets for the event, which includes six different whiskies, cost £30.

Although most whisky drinkers associate Speyside with single malts, there is a strong heritage of blended whisky too. Visitors can learn how to blend in the style of Chivas Regal at an event taking part in the home of the famous blend – Strathisla Distillery – on April 29.

During the special session, which is priced at £25, guests will taste a collection of drams, blend their own whisky under the guidance of an expert tutor from the Chivas Regal team, and take away a small bottle of their creation.

Everything whisky will be on the menu at The Glenlivet Open Day on April 30. The event at the legendary distillery includes tours, a whisky bar, food tastings, music and an exhibition. There will also be a chance to sample a dram from the Sma Still – a replica of one used in the days before distilling was legal. Tickets are priced £5.

There will also be a separate event, running as part of The Glenlivet Open Day, where visitors will be able to learn more about the smugglers who used the glen on an off-road tour on argocat vehicle. Tickets for the tours, which can be booked on the day, cost £40.

An event that will leave visitors shaken and stirred is a cocktail and canapes masterclass at The Macallan – the dram reputed to be the favourite tipple of James Bond. There may not be an appearance from 007 on May 1, but those who go along will learn how to create their own cocktails using three different malts from The Macallan.

Visitors will learn more about the range and enjoy three cocktails which the distillery’s brand ambassadors have specially created. Canapes to match the drinks will be served, and the cost of tickets is £40.

Revellers at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival want to carry on the party after a packed day of activities, and they will be able to do that thanks to an event being staged by Aberlour Community Association.

Visitors to the area will be able to meet locals at a Scottish ceilidh night being staged in the town’s Fleming Hall on April 29. Music will be provided by the very talented young group BROMA – featuring drummer Daniel Gordon, who is ranked as one of the top 40 drummers in the UK. Tickets, including food, are £12.

Based in the heart of Scotland’s malt whisky country, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place over five fun-filled days from April 27 to May 1, 2017. It comprises over 500 events, taking place from Kingussie in the south to Forres in the west and Buckie in the east.

More information about the Festival is available at www.spiritofspeyside.com.Tickets are available to buy for all events – including the awards judging sessions – from the website from February 7. The Festival is active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #dram17.

Ends

Picture caption: Visitors to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival still have the chance to snap up tickets to events.

Notes

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from Festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from Event Scotland and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2014 to 2020. The Scottish Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme.

EventScotland

EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.

EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.

Just Whisky Auction’s 41^st Auction

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Runs from 14^th – 23^rd April

Some of the bottles available in this month’s auction, including the brand new Macallan Folio 2.

Check out over 1,600 Lots now!

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WAREHOUSE DISCOVERIES

We’ve been spring cleaning our warehouse and discovered the last few bottles from some exceptional casks. These sparkling single casks whiskies are limited in numbers and only available online.

Order now before they are gone forever.

SHOP THE REPLENISHED STOCK NOW

Browse on smws.com

SHOP

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

EXPLORE THE FAR EAST

THURSDAY 27 APRIL AT 6PM
FREE!

REGISTER NOW

Some of the world’s favourite and award-winning whiskies hail from Japan, but have you ever tried what else the Far East has to offer? Whiskies from Taiwan and India are also taking the drinks world by storm. And it’s not just whiskies that are showing us what this corner of the world is made of – sakes and wines are also making their mark at all levels, with every major bar and restaurant craving a piece of the action.

Taste delicious Asian spirits and wines from the following producers: Akashi Akashi-Tai Hakushu Hibiki Omar & Yamazaki

THURSDAY 27 APRIL 
  
Join any time between 6pm and 8pm. 
It’s free to attend the tasting, but please register in advance

VENUE
 
THE WHISKY EXCHANGE SHOP
@ COVENT GARDEN
2 BEDFORD STREET
LONDON WC2E 9HH

WHISKY FIRM MARKS FOURTH BIRTHDAY WITH NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

Whisky giftware firm Angels’ Share Glass is marking its fourth anniversary with the launch of a series of birthstone angels.

The Stirling-based family company, founded on April 9, 2013, has created a new version of its signature line of whisky-filled glass angels featuring precious gemstone jewels.

The angels are each holding a real gemstone representing months of the year – Diamond for April, Emerald for May and so on.

The firm’s latest innovation was developed by co-founder Karen Somerville.

She says: “People have always liked the Angels which are holding something – like the Thistle and the Saltire which represent Scotland.

“We had some feedback asking if there was anything else we could use and decided gem stones would be a great fit and look lovely.

“And with our own fourth birthday coming up it seemed the perfect time to launch a new birthday product!

“Pre-orders of the Angels are already proving popular as birthday gifts while many – including July’s Ruby and June’s Pearl – will also work for wedding anniversaries.”

Angels’ Share Glass is also marking its fourth anniversary with the start of work on a new glassblowing studio which gets underway later this month.

The move follows a successful crowdfunding campaign which saw generous supporters pledge contributions to help the firm raise funds to create the state-of-the-art studio at its headquarters.

Angels’ Share Glass has come a long way since its beginnings as a home-based business run by co-founders Karen and her father, world-renowned glassmaker, Tom Young.

It now employs three other staff members plus a host of freelance workers in the glassmaking, marketing and sales industries.

The firm has also won a series of honours including Entrepreneur of the Year for Karen Somerville.

And last year it was named Best Micro Business at the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards as well as winning the Most Innovative Product Award for its unique whisky water dropper.

Meanwhile, Tom Young is due to receive an MBE for his services to glassmaking during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in mid-April.

Karen says: “We’ve seen phenomenal growth since setting up as a home-run operation four years ago and I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved since then.

“We’ve gone from a small firm selling one product to a global organisation which sells a host of different gifts to people all over the world.

“It’s great that we’re getting the new studio up and running this year as it will mean a lot to us in terms of increasing production and growing the firm further.

“It also means my dad can train up more apprentices who can help keep glassblowing alive in the heart of Scotland.”

Karen and Tom established the firm after capturing the spirit of a whisky producers’ legend, known as the Angels’ Share, through the creation of handmade glass angels.

The myth claims the small volume of whisky lost to evaporation while it matures is taken away by angels.

And in tribute to that legend, the glass angels are filled and sealed with 30ml of single malt – a measure of the Angels’ Share – in a secret process.

In the past four years, the firm has gone from strength to strength expanding its giftware range and exporting to retailers and online customers all over the world.

For more details, visit the website www.angelsshareglass.com

Notes:

Angels’ Share Glass is a family-run business based in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. The firm is co-directed by Karen Somerville and her father Tom Young – a world-renowned Master Craftsman who has been glassblowing and making lamp-work glassware for nearly 60 years. More information about the company can be found on the website at www.angelsshareglass.com

Spirit of Hven Alioth is the fifth in the Spirit of Hven Seven Stars series. It is a moderately peated single malt whisky, made from grain to bottle in the small family owned distillery situated on the island of Hven in the strait of Öresund between Denmark and Sweden.

Described as “Taste & Scent with Sustainability”, Spirit of Hven produces a diverse range of oak matured distillates, with the heart and soul of the distillery being the production of world acclaimed single malt whiskies. In fact, their single malt whisky was Sweden’s first ever island whisky. Handcrafted using only certified organic ingredients, distilled in unique copper pot stills, matured in French Petraea, French Robur and American Muehlenbergii before being finished off in 500L marrying casks made of Spanish Quercus Robur. These have previously held a unique dry Oloroso Sherry, providing a dry nutty, almond character with notes of raisins, new cut fruit and citrus all in an enticing harmony.

Spirit of Hven Alioth is named after the star Alioth in the asterism Ursa Major (the Plough). The name derives from the Arabic, alyat, meaning “the tail of a sheep” referring to the position in the asterism. Alioth is the brightest star in the constellation.

Spirit of Hven is distributed in the UK by Amathus Drinks PLC. For more information, please visit www.hven.com or contact holly@amathusdrinks.com.

Springbank Society

How are we all doing?

Not long until the Campbeltown Malts Festival – I am sure we will be seeing quite a few of you there.

My bombardment of your inboxes continue and, if anything, is gaining momentum because this is one of the best newsletters that has been sent to members during my time at the helm of the Society.

However, this email is very information heavy so please take the time to read it through to be sure of all the details below.

As I am sure you already suspect, I am delighted to confirm that that the purpose of this newsletter is to announce the release of 2 distillery releases from Springbank and remind you all of the Kilkerran 8yo Cask strength release from our sister distillery, Mitchell’s Glengyle. So let’s get started…

The following bottlings will be available in the UK from tomorrow (Wednesday 12th April 2017) and in other countries/markets in the coming weeks. Please contact your local retailers and stockists for more information, details of whom can be found by visiting www.springbankwhisky.com/distributors.

Hazelburn 13yo Sherrywood – 47.1%

We’ll start with this lovely HB release, distilled in October 2003 and matured in Oloroso casks;

Nose – Initially raisins, marzipan, Demerara sugar followed by treacle, sticky toffee and wood shavings.

Taste – Homemade strawberry jam, sugary and filled with cream, orange zest, brandy snaps and a white chocolate creme brûlée.

Finish – Chocolate orange, crazy coffee liqueur, buttered popcorn, cocoa beans and mocha coffee with a delicate finish of sweet orange marmalade.

There will be approximately 12,000 bottles available worldwide and they will retail at around £55.00.

Need to know

This is not a Society bottle. This is not considered a core product and as such the Society discount does not apply.I will not be taking orders for this bottle as I am not aware of any shop’s stock or allocation.

Longrow 18yo  – 46.0%

Nose – Very sweet; pear drops and light marshmallows. Roasted pine nuts and creme brûlée followed by a very buttery cheesecake base with a soft liquorice note.

Taste – The sweetness continues on the palate; with hard boiled toffee sweets, caramelised sugar, sticky toffee pudding, nougat and fresh cream with hints of charred embers.

Finish – Lovely and rich: dark chocolate followed by coffee beans, liquorish, viennese whirls. This is rounded off with the signature Longrow notes of coastal sea salt flavours and a gentle smokiness.

Matured in 60% refill sherry casks, 40% bourbon casks. There will be approximately 4,500 bottles available worldwide and they will retail at around £89.00.

Need to know

This is not a Society bottle. This is considered a core product so the Society discount will apply. I will not be taking orders for this bottle as I am not aware of any shop’s stock or allocation.

Kilkerran 8yo Cask Strength – 56.2% 

From Mitchell’s Glengyle

Most of you will have some of the information below but just incase any of you missed it I thought I would include it in full this time as well.

Nose – The aroma from the lightly peated barley is apparent from the off and some of the green apples which are becoming a feature of Kilkerran are also present. This whisky is like a favourite dessert, rhubarb crumble, with scents of stewed rhubarb, vanilla and all butter shortbread.

Taste – There’s an earthiness and saltiness, exactly what you want to taste in a Campbeltown dram. This is combined with icing sugar and puff candy which gives a sweetness to the whisky, along with milk chocolate and walnut flavours.

Finish – The peat remains, along with a sootiness, pencil shavings and a liquorice-influenced maltiness.

Matured in 100% bourbon casks, the KK 8yo CS will retail at around £48.00 and there will be approximately 9,000 bottles available worldwide.

Once again, these bottlings will be available in the UK from (Wednesday 12th April 2017) and in other countries/markets in the coming weeks. Please contact your local retailers and stockists for more information, details of whom can be found by visiting www.springbankwhisky.com/distributors.

Some of you may not see this email until Wednesday, in which case these bottles will be available by the time you read these words.

And finally, work on the next Society exclusive bottling is gathering pace and I will hopefully be releasing some information to you in the next few weeks.

Until next time,

Slainte

Nathan

Nathan Currie

For the Springbank Society 

society@springbank.scot

Introducing -“Find Rare Whisky” The online portal to browse, discover and shop for the best in Whiskies, Cognacs and other spirits. Learn more about all the New Brand Exclusives, Rare Collections, New Releases and More…..

If you liked what you tasted at the Nth 2017 then log on to “www.findrarewhisky.com” to purchase any whiskies showcased at the Nth Experience Find Rare Whisky

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Friday, April 21st 4-7PM

Locally Made: Sonoma Co. Distillery

Sonoma Co. Distillery, founded in 2010 in the heart of Sonoma County is California’s premier whisky distillery. Their ‘grain-to-glass’ approach to whisky brings a hands on quality to every bottling, resulting in a delicious world-class whisky. A variety of popular and upcoming releases will be sampled, with distillery representatives and whisky experts on hand to answer all your questions.

Click Here to RSVP

BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL NAMED BEST OF CLASS BOURBON,

RECEIVES DOUBLE GOLD

AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS COMPETITION

Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskies win eight top awards 

            FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (April 5, 2017) Buffalo Trace Distillery was awarded eight top awards at the sixth annual Denver International Spirits Competition, including a Double Gold, which was awarded to Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Blanton’s was also named Best of Class Bourbon.

            In addition to Blanton’s receiving Double Gold, whiskies from Buffalo Trace Distillery also received two Gold, three Silver and two Bronze.

            Those awarded Gold include:

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Sazerac Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

            Those awarded Silver include:

• Eagle Rare 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Brown Sugar Flavored Whiskey

            Those awarded Bronze include:

• Benchmark Apple Flavored Whiskey
• Benchmark Peach Flavored Whiskey

“We are very pleased and humbled by these results,” Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “This is a great recognition for our whiskies, and we could not be more proud of the whole crew at the Distillery who work hard every day to produce our great whiskies.”

The Denver International Spirits Competition was held in Broomfield, Colorado, where a panel of 20 respected spirits authorities rated entries through a double-blind process, on a 100-point scale.

Complete results for the 2017 Denver International Spirits Competition can be found at www.denverspiritscomp.com

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com