Bunnahabhain Moine Oloroso

This limited edition Islay Single Malt Scotch from Bunnahabhain is the product of just seven Oloroso sherry casks left to mature fully in the sea-facing warehouse No.7, revealing a side to the distillery not often seen. An intense peat and sherry sweetness await in this non chill-filtered cask strength expression.

Find out more on Hamish’s Blog

£74.99 Buy Now

Available while stocks last. Orders will be dispatched w/c 13th February.

Our first batch of brand new scotch whisky bottled in 2017 has just landed with us, from the lovely folks at Morrison & MacKay. A lovely selection of new Carn Mor whisky including a rather special bottling from one of Scotland’s lost Whisky Distilleries; Caperdonich. Alongside this rare malt are some superb drams we have come to expect from the Carn Mor label. A bold smokey Ledaig, a sherried Speysider and a lesser known Croftengea from the stills at Loch Lomond Distillery. We’ve had a wee taste of them too. A fine selection to kick of 2017 scotch whiskey!

The Strictly Limited Editions

From single distilleries these bottlings may come from one or two casks.  Generally younger scotch but offer a great variety and show that age isn’t everything.

Please click HERE to read the remainder of the article

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 153: Arran 20 Year Old 1996 for MMM

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a 20 years old Arran that he bottled himself with his pal. MMM has just released their 5^th bottling: an Arran 20 Year Old 1996 at cask strength, a whopping 54,1%. This is one of the first Arran 20 years old ever released and Mark & Manny are very proud of that fact. ‘And wouldn’t you know? It’s a beauty – if I say so myself.’

https://youtu.be/0cWD38uBFbo

THE BEAUFORT BAR LAUNCHES NEW COCKTAIL MENU

Known for its theatrical drinks and dramatic décor, The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar is launching a new cocktail menu on Thursday 9^th February 2017 that will take the form of a beautifully illustrated tunnel book. Twisting strands from the Savoy’s illustrious history into a fascinating cocktail narrative, the menu takes guests on a tour of the hotel through its legendary tales and extraordinary guests. From secret wartime bars, rooftop tap-dancing and extravagant gondola parties to luminaries such as Alfred Hitchcock, Katherine Hepburn and Tom Jones, the menu will be a celebration of some of The Savoy’s most captivating stories.

Created by Head Bartender Kyle Wilkinson along with Bar Manager Anna Sebastian and the whole Beaufort Bar team, the new menu is set to surpass even the ingenuity of the bar’s previous award-winning pop-up book in terms of innovative design, thematic style, flavour combinations and signature serves. Made up of twenty cocktails, each one tells a story about a different part of the hotel through illustrations, flavours and smells.

“The Savoy is a majestic place and when writing the menu, we came across so many stories that were too good not to share. The team has created what I like to think of as a journey through some of the most exciting and historic events in the hotel’s history from past to the present- next chapter of the Beaufort Bar.” Kyle Wilkinson

The menu opens with Under The Stars, a cocktail inspired by Fred Astaire, who famously danced upon the roof of The Savoy in the 1920s and goes on to document a number of well-documented and lesser known tales: a bellboy’s infamous first day, a cocktail shaker buried inside the American Bar, the wartime ‘Tich’s Bar’ frequented by journalists, and the relaunch of the hotel in 2010. Matching distinctive tastes with unique ingredients and bespoke essences, the menu will use the likes of leather, spices, paper, walnut and chocolate perfume to recreate a sense of actually being there to witness each story unfold. The signature spirits and favourite flavours of famous residents such as Duran Duran, Richard Harris, Bon Jovi and aviator Amy Johnson will be used to create the cocktails that they have inspired.

“As The Savoy has such a distinguished history for shaking up an evening with the finest cocktails in town, I am very touched to hear that ‘By Invitation Only’ will be joining the ranks alongside the luscious ‘White Lady’ and the deadly ‘Corpse Reviver’.” Nick Rhodes

Examples from the new menu include:

Garden of Memories – £16

At one of the most extravagant parties ever hosted at The Savoy, the courtyard was flooded, and a lavish sit-down dinner for twenty-four guests was served on a large gondola.

Incognito – £30

The Savoy was Katherine Hepburn’s hotel of choice due to the discretion of the staff; and following a visit to another famous hotel which frowned upon her wearing her trademark trousers. 

The Savoy Delivers – £16

On one occasion, when a Maharajah left behind an important package, The Savoy sent a young page boy all the way to India to return it by hand.

Height of Fashion – £18

London’s first ever hotel lift, known affectionately as an “ascending room”, took guests effortlessly from ground to top floor of the hotel – the well-heeled no longer had to climb the stairs. 

Read All About It! – £30

Tich’s bar was hidden in the depths of the hotel during WWII, and regularly saw dozens of wartime journalists consuming plenty of whisky until the early hours of the morning.

Johnnie Walker Blue and Black, coffee, banana, paper 

The Grass is always Greener – £25

A musical legend, friend and guest of The Savoy.

Having taken 10 months to create, the limited edition tunnel book menu has been elaborately and painstakingly illustrated by Shottopop. Designed in the opposite way to regular tunnel books, the cutouts get larger as guests traverse the menu, with every page-turn revealing a new design. Inspired by the eras most associated with the Savoy, the illustrations combine Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles with a truly modern and unique finish. With only 1500 made, each limited edition menu can be taken home as a keepsake or bought as a gift priced at £50.

The jet-black and burnished gold décor of The Beaufort Bar exudes the glamour of a time when such luminaries as Carol Gibbons, The Savoy Orpheans and George Gershwin graced the cabaret stage at The Savoy. Today, from a Bar that stands on this very same stage, award-winning head bartender Kyle Wilkinson and his expert team offer classic and new cocktails, and one of the most extensive choices of Champagne by the glass and by the bottle, including rare vintages from Louis Roederer and Cristal.

A Cocktail Recipe to Fall in Love with This Valentine’s Day 

MIAMI and DALLAS, FEBRUARY 7, 2017—To help consumers get in the mood for fun, regardless of relationship status, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (“Southern Glazer’s”)—the largest North American wine and spirits distribution company— asked some of its talented mixologist to share his favorite Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes and creative wine and chocolate pairings.

Rusty Love

• 1 ½ oz. Scotch
• ½ oz. Amaretto
• ½ oz. Vanilla Flavored Liqueur

Method: Stir and strain over ice

Garnish:  One Orange peel 

Mixologist: David Nepove, Director of Mixology at Southern Glazer’s from Daly City, CA

About Southern Glazer’s Mixologist

Southern Glazer’s employs 15 Master Mixologists across North America, responsible for educating bartenders, beverage buyers, and corporate clients about the latest trends in cocktail culture. Michelin star chefs, national restaurant chains, international hotels, and top spirits brands rely on Southern Glazer’s expert Mixologists to help them develop world-class beverage programs that raise the bar for today’s demanding consumers. Southern Glazer’s Mixologists hold multiple certifications from accredited organizations such as the U.S. Bartenders Guild, BarSmarts, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Society of Wine Educators, and the Cicerone Certification Program, to name a few.

About Southern Glazer’s Wine Education Team

Southern Glazer’s has the industry’s first national wine team dedicated to providing top quality wine education and certification for their employees across the country. The team, which includes one of only 23 female Master Sommeliers® in the world, is made up of eight of the industry’s most highly-trained experts who hold certifications including Master Sommelier® (MS), Master of Wine (MW), or Certified Wine Educator (CWE). Southern Glazer’s has more certified wine experts than any other North American wine and spirits distributor. The Company’s employees have successfully completed more than 3,500 wine, sake and spirits education programs, from introductory to master-level achievements. 

About Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is North America’s largest wine and spirits distributor, and the preeminent data insights company for alcoholic beverages. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Canada, and the Caribbean, and employs more than 20,000 team members. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit http://www.southernglazers.com/. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.

The Milroys Insider
Patricks Picks. Vol.3

SPRINGBANK 25
(Only 2 available)

Springbank 25 Year old 2017 release Campbeltown single malt Scotch whisky. Matured in sherry, bourbon & then married in refill Port casks. Just 900 bottles available worldwide.

BUY NOW

Tasting Note by The Producer

Nose: Lots of fruit with a mixture of grapefruit peel, dried tropical fruits, wine gums and a touch of cassis.

Palate: Orange peel, honeycomb, brandy snaps, black pepper and tobacco leaf.

Finish: Mineral notes combining with fennel, tea leaf and leather against a background of soft burning embers.

Springbank distillery is one of the last surviving producers of Campbelltown Single Malts. The distillery, located on the Kintyre peninsular, produces three distinct types of Single Malt Whisky. Their story spans centuries of whisky history and five generations of one family; the Mitchells. Now the oldest independent family-owned distillery in the country, they’re proud to share the story of Scotland’s most handmade whisky with enthusiasts across the world.

Bruichladdich Laddie 10

Just in time for our Bruichladdich tasting on the 13th of February we have the Laddie 10 year old in stock.

“The gorgeous light honey colour of this unpeated Islay dram draws you in to this delectable malt whisky. Creamy floral notes that we know from the classic laddie are followed up by unexpected sweet fruit flavours. A winning combination.”

BUY NOW

Ralfy analyses the prices in the U.K. of malts and has a very good experience with Ralfy Review 623 – Glenlivet 18yo @ 43%vol

Eight dram-tastic finalists are revealed in the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards

Single malts from the stable of whisky giants Chivas Brothers have taken the lion’s share of nominations in this year’s expanded Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards. A panel of industry experts shortlisted the firm’s drams in three out of four categories following a blind taste test.

The distiller’s Aberlour a’bunadh, Aberlour 12-year-old and Glenlivet 18-year-old have all been shortlisted for the accolades. The number of categories in the awards has been expanded from three to four this year in order to reflect the huge range of Speyside whiskies in circulation.

The eight finalists will now be put through the taste test by members of the public at a series of roving judging sessions taking place during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which runs from April 27 to May 1.

In the non-age statement category Aberlour a’bunadh is up against Tamdhu Batch Strength 002 – a malt produced by Ian MacLeod Distillers.

In the category for malt 12-year-old and under, the Aberlour dram will battle it out with Cragganmore 2004 Distiller’s Edition, produced by Diageo which also has another finalist in the 20 and over category.

In the 13-20-year-old section it is a head to head between two of the world’s biggest brands: The Glenlivet 18-year-old will go up against Glenfiddich 15-year-old from William Grant and Sons.

The two shortlisted whiskies in the 20 years and over category are Mannochmore 25-year-old Special Release and The Macallan 30-year-old Sherry Cask, produced by The Edrington Group.

The judging panel was made up of expert noses from the spirits industry, including retailers, writers and hoteliers. Among them were renowned French food and drink writer Martine Nouet, Mike Lord from drinks emporium The Whisky Shop Dufftown and Dave Broom, editor-in-chief of industry bible scotchwhisky.com and the current holder of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival International Ambassador Award.

Festival director Julie Fraser, who manages the awards programme, says the panel of nine judges had a very difficult time whittling down the 48 entries across the four categories.

“I don’t envy them their task. Although it sounds like the perfect way to spend a wintry afternoon on Speyside, it is actually a really difficult role to perform and it is not one that I, even as a whisky fan, would relish,” she says.

“As with any other awards scheme, the judging is always performed in a blind taste test to ensure that the results are completely neutral.  Although the panel may sometimes have an idea about what is in the glass they have no way of knowing for sure and I think it is quite fair to say that a few of them were rather surprised when the identities of the whiskies were finally revealed.

“The judges felt that all of the entries were of a very high standard this year, and it made their job of selecting just two finalists in each category particularly difficult.“

Festival chairman James Campbell adds, “From the discussion that took place afterwards I think that we were able to dispel the myth – once again – that such a thing as a typical Speyside whisky exists.

“Over the many years that these awards have been running we have been able to shake off the perception that Speyside always equals light and fruity: the reality is that Speyside whiskies offer something for all palates from the rich and fruity to the spicy and peated and to the light and floral.

“But the judges have now had their say and the final decision rests in the hands of the public who attend the roving judging sessions. Last year hundreds of votes were cast, and every year we see more and more people wanting to participate, place their vote and help influence the eventual winners.

“I think our distillers would agree that the fact that these awards are voted for by the whisky-drinking public – the people who actually go out and buy their product – makes winning all the more of a special achievement.”

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards made its international debut last year when one of the judging sessions was held overseas. The event was hosted in Scotia Spirit – a luxury Scottish food and drink store based in Cologne, Germany.

The success of that event has led the organising committee to consider holding judging sessions in other international locations this year. Plans are still being finalised, but it is anticipated that five overseas panels will be held before the start of the Festival.

The awards are sponsored by Forsyths of Rothes – the coppersmiths responsible for building many of the pot stills in which the shortlisted single malts were distilled. The judging took place at the luxurious Knockomie Hotel in Forres, which sponsors the tasting session.

The awards prize-giving will take place at the Festival closing ceilidh on Sunday, April 30 at Knockando Distillery.

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.

Visitors, who come from all over the world to celebrate Scotland’s national drink, can enjoy exclusive distillery tours, whisky nosing and tastings, food pairing events, music, outdoor activities and other cultural attractions.

More information about the Festival is available at http://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

Picture captions: Judges in the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards – including director of Keepers of the Quaich Annabel Miekle and whisky writer and consultant Blair Bowman – carried out a blind taste of malts to draw up their shortlist of finalists.

Eight malts have made it through to the final of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards.

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.

The whisky devoted bar, Scotch, at the historic Balmoral Hotel in the heart of Edinburgh has created a zingy, Valentine’s cocktail using R&B Distillers’ single malt – Raasay While We Wait. This whisky cocktail would make the perfect pre-dinner drink or an amorous nightcap on Valentine’s Day (14th February).

Scotch Bar Manager, Fraser Robson, has conceived this bespoke cocktail showcasing the fruitiness and versatility of Raasay While We Wait in an elegant blend with Grand Marnier, dry Vermouth and a refreshing twist of orange. The cocktail will be available to order at Scotch on Valentine’s Day and drinkers will also be invited to try a dram of this new and complex scotch.

Cosy tweed sofa, plush velvet armchairs and an atmospherically lit whisky library of over 500 whiskies makes Scotch a highly romantic setting for a Valentine’s date. Access to the stunning private roof top of the Balmoral Hotel can be also be pre-booked for a scenic proposal spot and a beautiful backdrop for a wedding photo shoot.

Proud to pioneer handcrafted whiskies of uncommon provenance, R&B Distillers, an exciting new whisky brand, launched their new premium whiskies in November 2015. Firmly ingrained in family history whilst simultaneously being a taste of the brand’s evolving future, Raasay While We Wait and Borders, two distinct and characterful whiskies, mark a new chapter for R&B Distillers.

R&B stands for Raasay and Borders, two unique landscapes brought together through one whisky company. Co-founder Alasdair Day embodies this coupling. His great grandfather, Allan MacDonald, hailed from the Hebrides while his other great grandfather, Richard Day was a master blender in the Borders in the early 19th Century. It is this history that has prompted R&B’s ongoing project to build distilleries at these twin roots in the Isle of Raasay and in the Scottish Borders.

R&B have been granted permission by the Highland Council to bring the first legal distillery to Raasay in the Inner Hebrides, an island where illicit distilling was once rife. While the distillery is being built, R&B have released the aptly named Raasay While We Wait whisky, a preview of the calibre and flavour of whisky yet to come with every sip certain to transport the drinker to the rugged island of Raasay.

With Raasay While We Wait, R&B Distillers have crafted a single malt whisky by bringing together two expressions from one distillery: one peated, one un-peated. This precise combination is a tantalising prediction of the flavours that will be produced at the new distillery on the Isle of Rasaay, off the remote west coast of Skye. The smoky peat aroma is softened in the finishing process which occurs in French oak Tuscan red wine casks and results in a unique, lightly fruity aroma and a heather hue. Raasay While We Wait has now been awarded three prestigious international awards: In May 2016, the whisky received a bronze medal in the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), in August this was followed with a Silver Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) and in November a bronze from the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition (HKIWSC). The awards are tremendous accolades for such a young whisky.

Meanwhile, Borders echoes the soft rolling landscape of its future location in the South of Scotland. This single grain whisky is lighter and softer in flavour than the smoky peat dram of Raasay While We Wait. Matured in Bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso sherry casks, Borders has been produced to reflect a lowland style. Alasdair Day’s great-grandfather blended whisky in the Coldstream and now, over 150 years since the last distillery in the Scottish Borders, Alasdair is returning to his roots and planning to reinstate whisky in this forgotten region. In 2015, Peebles was selected by the Scottish public as the preferred location for the new distillery. In November 2016 Borders was awards its first international award – a bronze medal in the HKIWSC.

As a precursor to the new distilleries being built, R&B Distillers offers membership to the Na Tùsairean club (Scots Gaelic for ‘The Pioneers’) – an exclusive offering for whisky aficionados. The inaugural 100 casks of Raasay whisky will be bottled exclusively for Na Tùsairean members who will receive one bottle each year for ten years, gradually acquiring a rare collection of R&B Whisky. Members will also receive miniatures so they can experience a dram of the whisky without breaking into their collector’s bottle and are entitled to the equivalent of one night’s stay per year for the duration of their membership in the luxury members accommodation.

Raasay While We Wait, priced at £56.95 and Borders priced at £49.95 are available to buy directly from the R&B Distillers website: www.rbdistillers.com

T: 0131 564 0761 E: sales@rbdistillers.com

NOTES

RETAILERS UK:

• Master of Malt (online)

• Whiski Rooms (Edinburgh shop)

• Oban Whisky & Fine Wines (Oban)

• Shop4Whisky (online)

• JL Gill (Crieff)

• Royal Mile Whiskies (Edinburgh & online)

• Raasay Community Store (Raasay)

• Jeffrey Street Whisky & Tobacco (Edinburgh)

• The Whisky Shop (Dufftown)

• Mainstreet Trading Co. (St Boswells, Scottish Borders)

• Oblo Bar (Eyemouth, Scottish Borders)

BARS/RESTAURANTS

• Whiski Rooms (Edinburgh bar)

• Teuchters Landing (Edinburgh Leith)

• Teuchters West End (Edinburgh West End)

• Drysbrugh Abbey Hotel (Drysbrugh)

• Raasay House Hotel (Raasay)

• Sconser Lodge (Skye)

TASTING NOTES:

‘While We Wait’

Aroma: Surprisingly very little smoke on the nose but instead light fruity notes come through.

Colour: Natural colour, heather tinted imparted from Tuscan red wine oak casks.

Taste: Instantly there is peat smoke and spice (a distant campfire, black pepper, liquorice, oak and then the sea breeze) slowly this is balanced with the dry fruit from the Tuscan red wine casks (black currant, blackberry, raspberry and cherries).

Finish: A long lingering finish.

Food Pairings: Pairs well with Sconser Scallops, Smoked Salmon, game, grouse, woodcock, venison, creamy blue cheese, bacon, haggis.

ABV: 46% Non-Chill Filtered

Year released: November 2015 – 1st Release Limited Edition

‘Borders’

Aroma: Prominent sherry notes on the nose, hints of sugar-coated nuts.

Colour: Natural colour, lightly golden taken from sherry finishing casks.

Taste: Surprisingly dry on the palate with the sherry influences dominating. Walnuts balanced with vanilla, herbaceous and floral notes coming through towards the end, and just a touch of warm spice.

Finish: Lingering, dry and complex.

Food Pairings: Pairs well with Cocoa Black dark praline chocolates.

ABV: 51.7% Non-Chill Filtered

Year released: November 2015 – 1st Release Limited Edition