BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY TO PARTNER WITH

KENTUCKY RIVER TOURS

River tour boat to be named by Buffalo Trace employees and social media followers 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May 1, 2018) – Buffalo Trace Distillery, nestled adjacent to the Kentucky River, is partnering with Kentucky River Tours to begin offering tours this summer with rarely seen views of this iconic Distillery. Kentucky River Tour is a newly founded business based in Frankfort, started by the owners of Canoe Kentucky, Nathan and Allison Depenbrock, and Clayton Embly, of Lexington Kentucky. Tours will start in the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop, and will then shuttle to Buffalo Trace’s on-site boat dock where guests will embark, and later return from, the river tour.

This unique partnership will be one-of-a-kind, as currently no other bourbon distillery offers a boat tour.

Following a brief safety talk, the 45-minute tour of the Kentucky River’s Pool 3 will focus on the history of the river and its impacts on the bourbon industry as a whole. Guests will see the river-side of the Distillery, Lock and Dam #4, Steamboat Bend and enjoy all the sights and sounds of the Kentucky River.

The boat, which is currently without a name, won’t be nameless for long. The employees at Buffalo Trace Distillery are currently submitting names for the tour boat. Once the name submissions have been collected, four of the best contenders will be put to a vote on the Canoe Kentucky Facebook page for the public to decide. The Buffalo Trace employee whose name submission is selected as the winner on Facebook will have the honor of christening the boat upon its launch and official ribbon-cutting this summer and will be a guest on the very first tour.

The vessel in which tours will travel is a USCG inspected 28-foot Carolina Skiff, set up as an 18-passenger tour boat. The boat’s open design is complete with a ¾ roof and open-view railing which will allow for a great view of the river.

Kentucky River Tours expects to launch its first boat by early summer following the official ribbon-cutting and christening, and plans to operate Tuesdays through Sundays, weather permitting, through December. All reservations and tour bookings for the river tour are being handled directly by Kentucky River Tours. Reservations for the river tour will be highly encouraged, and can be made through the new Kentucky River Tours website, www.kyrivertours.com. Private tours and bookings will also be available, and can be arranged through Kentucky River Tours.

Tickets for the River Tour can be purchased from Kentucky River Tours for $14 per person. A portion of each ticket sale will be donated to Woods and Waters, a local non-profit dedicated to protecting and preserving the lower Kentucky River watershed.

For more information visit www.kyrivertours.com and stay tuned to the Canoe Kentucky and Buffalo Trace Distillery Facebook pages to help select the name of the boat.

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 21 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 500 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

This World Whisky Day (Saturday 19th May), the Raasay Distillery is teaming up with esteemed whisky bar and restaurant, Bull in a China Shop in Shoreditch.

Boasting an impressive collection of over 100 whiskies from around the globe, Bull in a China shop is an apt place to share celebratory drams this World Whisky Day. For the occasion, Bull in a China shop has created an internationally-inspired cocktail that brings together Hebridean and Italian ingredients in a smoky, yet fruity, tipple.

Please find the cocktail recipe below:

SKYE LARKING 

50ml Raasay While We Wait whisky

10ml wine reduction

5ml Italian Walnut Amaro

Stir all ingredients together with ice, Old-Fashioned-style, in a rocks glass.

Garnish with a twist of lemon zest.

The Skye Larking cocktail alludes to the Raasay Distillery’s location in the Inner Hebrides with impressive views of the Cuillins on neighbouring island, Skye. The Italian inspired flavours of the cocktail pick up on thew whisky’s wine-finish. Raasay While We Wait single malt is finished in Tuscan Montechiari Cabernet casks which gives it fruity notes and a heather hue.

Occupying a Dickensian-fronted pub opposite Shoreditch’s iconic Tea Building, Bull in a China Shop is a Modern British with a pinch of the orient -inspired all-day restaurant and whisky bar. With an eclectic collection of medicine bottle, ornaments and artwork the bar is a true modern day curiosity shop.

Raasay While We Wait single malt scotch Whisky 46% abv, natural colour, non-chill filtered.

Awards:

First Release IWSC 2016 Silver, ISC 2016 Bronze, HKIWSC 2016 Bronze
2nd Release ISC 2017 Bronze

While waiting for our new spirit to mature into Scotch Whisky, we have crafted a single malt demonstrating our whisky making skills to offer a tantalising taster of what’s to come.

We achieved this by blending two expressions from one distillery; one peated, one unpeated. The whisky then is then French oak Tuscan wine casks from three vineyards that produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

The result? Single malt whisky of uncommon provenance.

Aptly enough, this special edition, lightly peated whisky is christened While We Wait.

We’ve produced three releases of Raasay While We Wait to date. How do they differ? First release finished in red wine casks for 8 weeks while the 2nd release finished for 18 months. With the 3rd release we combined these 2 finishes for the perfect balance.

The Sovereign Invergordon 30 Year Old

A single cask expression from Glasgow’s Hunter Laing & Co., this single grain Scotch whisky was distilled at Invergordon in Ross-shire. Matured for three full decades in a single cask, this expression has been bottled at a natural cask strength of 48.8% abv as part of The Sovereign range, free from chill-filtration and colouring.

The nose is sweet with apple and some autumn fruits. The palate brings lashings of sweet butterscotch, before a short, oaky finish.

£160 Buy Now

The Sovereign Strathclyde 30 Year Old

This single grain whisky from Hunter Laing & Co’s The Sovereign range was distilled at Glasgow’s Strathyclyde distillery on the banks of the River Clyde in the Gorbals district of the city. Aged for three full decades in a single refill ex-bourbon cask before being bottled at a strength of 50.5% abv.

The nose is fruity with some vinyl notes and earth tones beneath. The palate is light and creamy, with notes of boiled sweets, before a creamy coconut finish.

£159 Buy Now

Society Members

A note from the Campbeltown Cadenhead Shop regarding the Malts Festival

If you are planning to collect any bottles from the shop during the week of the Campbeltown Malts Festival then please let us know as soon as you can. Please be specific regarding which bottles you are collecting.

This is to allow the shop staff to prepare for the inevitable chaos of the festival as best they can. It is also beneficial for you and your fellow festival goers as it will speed up the process of collecting bottles allowing you to get on with the important things in life; like drinking whisky!

Please get in touch at the usual email address – society@springbank.scot

Speak soon.

Slainte

The Springbank Society
Springbank Distillers Ltd

To join the Springbank Society please email them at Springbank Society society@springbank.scot 

As a teasing ‘Festival Fever’ interlude, we’re transporting the senses to an exotic market with six new Outturn releases. With afternoon sun beams bursting through the clouds, take a wander through wooden stalls and discover a colourful collection of tastes and aromas – with fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs and teas.

VIEW WHISKY

SPEYSIDE V ISLAY: THROW YOURSELF INTO THE DEBATE

We know that both Speyside and Islay have their superfans – are you dedicated to honeyed and elegant drams or do you have a penchant for peat, campfires on the beach and marshmallows dipped in oyster brine? Are you a Craigellachie Crusader or an Islay Avenger? Let battle commence, throw yourself into our debate – VOTE NOW and show your superfan region allegiance.

VOTE

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

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival winners announced as curtain falls after another record breaking year

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – set in Scotland’s heartland of malt whisky production – is basking in the glow of success after delivering a record-breaking five-day celebration of the water of life to a worldwide audience.

Organisers say that 19th festival has been the best yet in terms of international numbers, with strong ticket sales and the most extensive festival programme ever – featuring 575 events in total – delivered as part of this year’s offering.

Debut attraction, an Off The Beaten Track Tour to four distilleries never normally open to the public,  won the coveted best new event award. It saw whisky lovers transported by coach for tours delivered by Chivas Brothers’ International Brand Ambassador Tristan Campbell at Dalmunach, Tormore, Braeval and Allt a Bhainne distilleries. The tours were followed by a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired lunch prepared by cookery writer Ghillie Başan, accompanied by whisky tastings, at her remote Speyside home, reached via a Land Rover journey, a setting that was truly ‘off the beaten track’.

This was announced at the closing ceilidh held at the Craigellachie Hotel last night (Sunday) when the winners of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards were also revealed.

The annual awards – the only whisky competition in the world that places the power to determine the winning drams in the hands of the public – saw the 25 year old Cragganmmore Special Release announced as the public’s favourite whisky overall.

There was double cause for celebration for Glen Moray, with its Classic Chardonnay winning the non-age statement and its 18 year old winner in the 13-20 year old section.

Top title in the 12 year old and under winner went to Strathisla 12 year old.

Meanwhile, in the over 21-Year-Old category, Glenfiddich 21-year-old Reserva Rum Cask Finish triumphed, with the 25-year-old Cragganmore Special Release runner up, but it gaining most individual votes overall making it the public’s favourite. The awards were sponsored by Forsyths of Rothes.

James Campbell, chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival said: “What a truly magnificent five days we have had here in Speyside. We’ve been joined by people from more countries than ever, as well as local people, who have been able to enjoy our biggest ever programme of events, and amid glorious sunshine too.

“One of the key events of the festival is the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards and we congratulate all  our winners. From a fantastic range of new events, the Off The Beaten Track tour encompassed landscape, whisky and food, three qualities for which Speyside is famed the world over, making it a worthy winner of best new event.

“We’re delighted to have been able to offer so many different experiences to so many people, all enjoyed over a dram and in convivial company.”

After analysing this year’s festival, the organising team will be turning their focus to staging its offshoot, Spirit of Speyside: Distilled. The event, which brings together the region’s whisky, gin, beer and food producers under one roof, to enjoy samples of local products, meet key faces from the food and drink industry and take part in masterclasses on a range of different topics. Spirit of Speyside: Distilled takes place in Elgin Town Hall on August 31 and September 1. Tickets, which will go on sale in June for different sessions over the weekend.

From exclusive behind the scenes distillery tours and whisky and food pairings, to heritage walks embracing the local landscape and fun, family-friendly events, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme offered something for everyone, from connoisseurs to complete novices.

Details about the festival can be found at www.spiritofspeyside.com and on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter. Use the hashtag #dram18 to search.

Picture captions

Dram roll please:  Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival whisky award winners line up to receive awards (from left to right) Kevin Innes, Cragganmore; Mark Thompson, Glenfiddich; Ed Dodson, Glen Moray, James Campbell, chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Richard Forsyth of award sponsors Forsyths, Caroline Mitchell, Strathisla and Graham Coull, Glen Moray.

Ann Miller, International Brand Ambassador for Chivas Brothers, accepts the best new event award, for Off the Beaten Track, from The Scotsman Food and Drink writer Sean Murphy.

Link to video

In long anticipation of spring finally arriving, May Outturn brings a colourful bouquet of fresh single casks to warm your heart and soul.

CASK NO. 30.98  BRING ON THE DANCERS

25 years old; refill barrel; 46%; Juicy, oak & vanilla

The nose – Moulin Rouge dancing girls and a madrigal of tropical fruits. The palate is juicy and perfumed – Pink Ladies and apple grannies.

CASK NO. 44.86  FOUR SEASONS IN ONE GLASS

10 years old; refill barrel; 60.8%; Sweet, fruity & mellow

A journey through fragrant flowerbeds and apple blossom, to cider and damp forest floors before finishing with mulled wine and stollen bread.

CASK NO. 71.47  CITRIC, SPICY, WHISKY LASSI

10 years old; refill barrel; 60.5%; Spicy & sweet

The nose is a breakfast of grapefruit and manuka honey. The palate adds strawberry jam and a spicy, fruity ‘lassi’ drink.

CASK NO. 58.21  OLD-FASHIONED CONFECTIONERS

11 years old; new oak hogshead; 58%; Spicy & sweet

The nose has flowers, lemon puffs and spicy sweets. The palate is totally tasty (chocolate and butterscotch). Formerly in an ex-bourbon hogshead.

CASK NO. 39.151  A BLUE LADY AND A SERAPH’S SMILE

19 years old; 1st fill PX butt; 57.5%; Deep, rich & dried fruits

Blue Lady tea and After Eights, plus fruits and flowers. The palate is as sweet as a Seraph’s smile. Previously in an ex-oloroso butt.

CASK NO. 4.236  ISLAND HOLIDAY SNAPSHOT

14 years old; refill hogshead; 56.6%; Lightly peated

The nose evokes island holidays – wild flower machair and beach barbecues. The palate balances honeyed porridge sweetness with floral smoke.

CASK NO. 66.110  PEAT FOR BEGINNERS

12 years old; 2nd fill white wine barrique; 60%; Peated

The soft nose captured bacon and sea breeze; the palate delivered a BBQ punch of steak and salted almonds. Previously in an ex-bourbon hogshead.

SMWS Canada

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada

104-1240 Kensington Road NW, Suite 160
Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 3P7
Email – curious@smws.ca

The Victoria Highland Games Association is once again pleased to present “The Whisky Tasting School” on May 19th, 20th, & 21st 2018 at the 155th Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival at Topaz Park.

All sessions will feature single malt whiskies presented by ambassadors representing a variety of Scotch & American whiskies.

The registration fee is $35 (Monday Food and Whisky pairing sessions $45) and includes a one-day field entry (value $15). Whisky School guests are also able to purchase an engraved Victoria Highland Games Glencairn whisky nosing glass for $15 (one per guest per class).

Guests must be aged 19 years or older to attend!

Each session has limited seating; in previous years all sessions have sold out prior to the Games so don’t be late in registering!

Details of the 9 sessions are as follows:

(WS1)
Saturday May 19th 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Whisky and Chocolate I
Price $35 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT
with Adam Bradshaw and David Mincey

Sample a range of excellent Ardbeg whiskies paired with outstanding bean to bar chocolate ethically sourced from around the world. Hosted by Adam Bradshaw of The Strath, and David Mincey of the Chocolate Project.

(WS2)
Saturday May 19th 1:45 – 2:45 PM
Brands of Fountana
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Adam Bradshaw

Only the best whiskies get out of the cask, regardless how old they might be. Come and try single malts from some of best independent bottlers of Scotland.

(WS3)
Saturday May 19th 3:30 – 4:30 PM
The Douglas Laing Scottish Regional Malt Collection I
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Stacy Kyle of Rare Drams

Do you drink only single malts? Are you ready for a fantastic new whisky journey? Get ready to enjoy! Many blended scotches are just as delicious and take even more artistry to make. Judge a whisky on the liquid in your glass, not by the title on the label. And whatever your preference, bow down to the mastery of blenders behind them.

(WS4)
Sunday May 20th 12:00 – 1:00 PM
The Douglas Laing Scottish Regional Malt Collection II
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Stacy Kyle of Rare Drams

Do you drink only single malts? Are you ready for a fantastic new whisky journey? Get ready to enjoy! Many blended scotches are just as delicious and take even more artistry to make. Judge a whisky on the liquid in your glass, not by the title on the label. And whatever your preference, bow down to the mastery of blenders behind them.

(WS5)
Sunday May 20th 1:45 – 2:45 PM

NIKKA Japanese Whisky
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Rick Sousa

Enjoy world renowned whiskies from the Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. while Rick Sousa informs you of the history of whisky in Japan and the story of Nikka’s founder, Masataka Taketsuru, whose travel to Scotland and back shaped the history of whisky production in Japan.

(WS6)
Sunday May 20th 3:30 – 4:30 PM
STR, the Legacy cask
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Andrew Campbell Walls & Macaloney Distillers

In a career that spanned 40 years, ‘the Einstein of whisky’ Dr. Jim Swan revolutionized the industry. With a beer to start, this class discusses 4 brand-new-released malts matured in his proprietary bespoke STR casks and a 5th from the last distillery he ever worked with.

(WS7)
Monday May 21st 11:30 – 12:45 PM (NEW TIME!)
Whisky and Local Food Pairing
Price: $45.00 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT
with Bill Jones

Join Deerholme Farm owner, Cookbook Author and Celebrity Chef, Bill Jones and Kensington Wine Market owner Andrew Ferguson, as they guide you through a sensory journey pairing single malt whiskies with delectable local food choices. Bill will lead you through a variety of local food choices paired with outstanding whiskies from the Beam Suntory portfolio including Highland Park and Macallan. For more information on Bill, visit www.deerholme.com.

(WS8)
Monday May 21st 1:30PM – 2:45 PM (NEW TIME!)
Whisky and Local Charcuterie Pairing
Price: $45.00 – 45 attendees. SOLD OUT
with Corey Pelan.

Join the Whole Beast Owner Corey Pelan and Kensington Wine Market owner Andrew Ferguson as they lead you through a selection of local made charcuterie paired with outstanding single malt whiskies from the Beam Suntory portfolio, including Auchentoshan and Bowmore. For more information on Corey and The Whole Beast, visit www.thewholebeast.ca.

(WS9)
Monday May 21st 3:30PM – 4:30 PM (NEW TIME!)
Whisky and Chocolate II
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Adam Bradshaw and David Mincey</>

Sample a range of excellent Ardbeg whiskies paired with outstanding bean to bar chocolate ethically sourced from around the world. Hosted by Adam Bradshaw of The Strath, and David Mincey of the Chocolate Project.

Highland Park The Light

This 17 year old limited edition from Orkney’s Highland Park distillery has been created in honour of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, celebrated each June on the island. Matured in refill American oak casks and presented at a strength of 52.9% abv, only 28,000 bottles have been produced.

This is the second and final release in The Dark & The Light series and showcases sweet flavours of pear, nutmeg and vanilla with a touch of heather peat smoke.

£180 Pre-Order Now
Orders will be dispatched week beginning 14th May