Malt of the Month – Highland Park 18

Highland Park 18 Year Old is simply one of the benchmark single malts, packed with aromatic smoke, honeyed fruit and toffee. It’s won numerous awards, too, including Best Spirit in the World, and remains one of the most reliable drams out there.

Tasting Notes 

FROM THE PRODUCER

• COLOUR: Natural colour, burnished gold, clear and bright.
• AROMA: Rich, mature oak, top note of aromatic smoke.
• TASTE: Rich, full flavour; honey and peat.

HISTORY

Highland Park was founded in 1798 and is based in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands. The distillery is one of the few that still has its own on-site maltings, and the barley is hand-turned and dried with Orkney peat, which is sweeter and more floral than its Islay counterpart. In recent years, Highland Park has wowed whisky fans with its Valhalla Collection and super-premium Orcadian Vintages series

The Good Dram Show – Episode 263 ‘Douglas Laing Xtra Old Particular’ and features the April releases in their Xtra Old Particular range.

THE GLENLIVET EXPLORES NEW FRONTIERS WITH LAUNCH OF

COGNAC CASK FINISH EXPRESSION

The Glenlivet is set to re-assert its credentials as the definitive Single Malt Scotch whisky with the release of a contemporary new expression; Captain’s Reserve, a Single Malt selectively finished in high-quality Cognac casks. The launch is set to push the boundaries of modern Scotch through its distinctive cask combination.

Captain’s Reserve is the result of flavour and cask experimentation. This combination of the raisin-rich intense taste of Cognac with the signature citrus notes and creamy smoothness of The Glenlivet offers consumers the opportunity to broaden their Single Malt Scotch repertoire. The new flavour and taste experience also encourages new consumers to explore the thriving Single Malt Scotch category, which is one of the fastest growing spirits categories globally, and is expected to continue its growth at +6%[1].

This new expression, which will sit as part of The Glenlivet range, is a tribute to Captain William Smith Grant, great-grandson of George Smith, founder of The Glenlivet, the definitive Speyside Single Malt. The Captain not only fought in the First World War in France, but later went on to fight for The Glenlivet, guiding the brand through the difficult Prohibition years and leading the Single Malt Scotch whisky revival in the UK and US. This unique story is brought to life through Captain’s Reserve by uniting the definitive Speyside Single Malt and the opulent rich flavours of Cognac.

Alan Winchester, The Glenlivet Master Distiller, comments: “We know that Single Malt consumers are becoming increasingly adventurous and are seeking to explore new flavour profiles and finishes in the category. Research shows that the global consumption of Cognac is expected to increase by some 2m cases by 2021[2]. By introducing the Cognac casks into our maturation process, we are able to capitalise on the popularity of this flavour and add another dimension to our world-renowned portfolio. The Cognac casks’ influence will bring a real richness to the smooth and fruity style of The Glenlivet, which we’re confident new and existing Single Malt Scotch enthusiasts will enjoy.”

Captain’s Reserve is available globally, with an RRP ranging from £45-48 (or local equivalent).

For more information, or high-resolution images, please contact:

Notes:

The Glenlivet Captain Reserve Tasting notes:

NOSE: Bursting with sweet and fruity aromas. Rich in honey and apricot jam, with notes of sweet cinnamon bread and a subtle sensation of spicy liquorice.

TASTE: Succulent flavours of mandarins in syrup, ripe poached pears and chocolate-dipped raisins.

FINISH: Incredibly smooth and luscious.

About The Glenlivet:

Created by George Smith in 1824, The Glenlivet is The Definitive Speyside Single Malt, renowned for its heritage as a visionary within the single malts category. With its smooth and fruity flavour profile, The Glenlivet has contributed the biggest volume growth of the single malt category worldwide, adding more than any other single malt whisky brand over the past five years (IWSR, 2016). Acting as the guardian for outstanding quality and craftsmanship within single malts, The Glenlivet is dedicated to continuing this legacy and has led innovation within single malt in recent years. Standout initiatives include the release of The Glenlivet Cipher, a mystery single malt, and the creation of The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, a great representation of the distillery’s signature style.

About Chivas Brothers:

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

[1] IWSR, 2016

[2] The Global Cognac Insights report, 2017

AUTHENTIC SEACOAST DISTILLING COMPANY WINS MEDALS AT PRESTIGIOUS SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION

Guysborough, Nova Scotia – Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company Ltd has continued its winning streak at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), bringing five medals home to Atlantic Canada from the 18th annual competition. The distillery received a:

• Gold Medal for its GLYNNEVAN® 12 Year Old Straight Canadian Rye Whisky,
• Silver Medal for its GLYNNEVAN® Cabot Triple Barrelled Canadian Rye Whisky
• Bronze Medals for its GLYNNEVAN® Double Barrelled Canadian Rye Whisky

This is the fourth consecutive year Authentic Seacoast Distilling has been recognized for excellence with their spirits.

Regarded as the most influential spirits competition in the world, the 2018 SFWSC was the largest in its history, featuring more than 2,200 submissions. Medal winners are chosen through a rigorous blind tasting process over four days to ensure integrity and impartiality. As a result, a SFWSC medal is a recognized affirmation of high quality and one of the most reliable and universal indications of spirits excellence.

“I am absolutely delighted to have our GLYNNEVAN® Whisky, recognized by the most prestigious spirits competition in the world”, said Glynn Williams, President and Distiller, Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company Ltd.

“These impressive results provide us with independent third party validation of the very high quality of our products on a global basis.”

A new Canadian tradition where the spirit of prairie grain comes to rest in barrels in the Authentic Seacoast Distillery on the historic Guysborough harbour, GLYNNEVAN® Whisky brings a distinct Maritimes character to Canadian rye whisky. Read more about GLYNNEVAN at www.glynnevan.com.

About Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company

Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company produces small batch, craft blended and distilled spirits including GLYNNEVAN® Whisky, Fortress® Rum, Virga® Vodka and Sea Fever® Rum at its distillery on the historic Guysborough harbour, and is part of Authentic Seacoast Company, which includes Osprey Shores, historic DesBarres Manor Inn, Full Steam® Coffee, Harbour Belle Bakery, Authentic Seacoast Brewing Co. (makers of Rare Bird® Craft Beer), Glanbùrn Artesian Water, Authentic Seacoast Soaps and the Authentic Seacoast Store.

About Authentic Seacoast Company

Authentic Seacoast Company’s vision is to restore the proud trading legacy of a seacoast village in Nova Scotia and to create jobs in the community on a sustainable basis by producing and sharing high quality products and experiences that are authentic and memorable. The Authentic Seacoast Company embodies the fresh sea air, industrious people and proud determination that has kept this special place by the sea alive over the past four centuries.

Read more at: http://www.authenticseacoast.com

FESTIVAL FLAVOUR DISCOVERY PACK

May First Friday raised our festival fever levels with the release of our celebratory Speyside and Islay bottlings. Temperatures are set to rise again with the release our Festival Flavour Discovery Pack. The five-dram pack features 25ml bottles, with two casks from Speyside and three from Islay. Pack numbers are extremely limited and include 29.244 Weaving wondrous dreams, which is only available to buy at the Islay Malts and Music festival at the end of the month.

 VIEW LATEST OUTTURN

The Festival Flavour Discovery Pack includes five 25ml bottles:

107.13 Andalusian gazpacho

9.143 Graceful gravitas

10.141 Indulgence by the sea

3.307 A journey into joy

29.244 Weaving wondrous dreams

DISCOVER MORE

ISLAY FESTIVAL: SMWS PROGRAMME

For those lucky members who are making the whisky pilgrimage to Islay, be sure to check out our programme of festival events happening at Islay House – with our annual Open Day on Friday 25 May and masterclasses and shop running from Monday 28 to Wednesday 31 May.

MORE DETAILS

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

Springbank Society Members 

May Releases

We are delighted to announce that we have 3 new releases that will be available in the UK from tomorrow (9th May). A new Springbank, a new Longrow and a new Hazelburn – all the details are below.

• Springbank 21yo 46%

• Longrow 18yo 46%

• Hazelburn 13yo Sherrywood 47.4%

As we have mentioned in previous announcement emails, this email is designed to replace the old ‘Available Now’ Newsflash that was traditionally sent out on the launch day as a number of members have requested that we let you all know sooner. As such, notifications on the launch day itself will only be made on social media. We do urge members not to publish the details below on social media before we announce it ourselves through our own social media channels. This will hopefully let you all get first bite of the cherry although we would highlight that we do not control how shops sell their stock, if they take pre-orders etc. Even the Cadenhead shops are out-with our control so if you have any enquires about what stock individual shops have please contact them directly.

Springbank 21yo 46%

The latest Springbank 21yo has been matured in 70% rum casks and 30% bourbon casks and has been bottled at 46% ABV.

Nose: A burst of heather and freshly mowed grass followed by honey, pear skin and wood shavings. Hints of butter; cheesecake, fresh cream and digestive biscuit.

Palate: Elegant and gentle. Butterscotch and vanilla, sugar cane and molasses develop as the rum cask influence brings apricots, peaches and paprika.

Finish: A soft smokiness is present in the background. Toffee apples, raisins and oat biscuits emerge. In the foreground; peppercorn, almonds and apricot jam are prominent.

• The Campbeltown Cadenhead shop will be selling the Springbank 21yo 46% for £186.00.
• This is not a Society exclusive bottle
• The Society discount for this bottle is £10.00 (at the discretion of each individual Cadenhead shop).

Longrow 18yo 46%

This new 18yo Longrow was matured in 60% sherry casks and 40% casks are will be bottled at 46%.

Nose: Elegant and refined. Sea salt and Wakame seaweed followed by pine cones, wood shavings and honey.
Palate: Rich and creamy with subtle peat and juicy sweet flavours. Salted popcorn, Tofu, Butterscotch and Vanilla. Tobacco leaf, wood shavings and Black Forest gateau.

Finish: Pecan nuts followed by soft peaty embers with dark chocolate and earthy notes.

• The Campbeltown Cadenhead shop will be selling this Longrow 18yo 46% for £89.00.
• This is not a Society exclusive bottle
• The Society discount for this bottle is 10% (at the discretion of each individual Cadenhead shop).

Hazelburn Sherrywood 13yo

The next chapter of the Hazelburn sherrywood series introduces us to this 13yo Oloroso cask matured edition bottled at 47.4%.

Nose: Full bodied; creamy and rich with dark chocolate. Rose petals and ginger biscuit snaps with freshly brewed espresso coffee.

Palate: Bursting with fresh cream and strawberries, all developing due to the maturation in Oloroso Sherry; Turkish delight, clotted cream, strawberry jam followed by marzipan and walnuts.

Finish: Brown sugar, dates and toffee; sticky toffee pudding! Cream coffee liqueur, red apple peel, banana chips, vanilla and black pepper.

• The Campbeltown Cadenhead shop will be selling this Hazelburn 13yo for £55.00.
• This is not a Society exclusive bottle
• The Society discount for this bottle is 10% (at the discretion of each individual Cadenhead shop).

These whiskies are available in the UK from tomorrow – for more information on when they will be released in different countries/markets please contact your local Springbank retailers and stockists, details of whom can be found by visiting: http://springbank.scot/distributors/.

Once again, we urge members not to publish the details in this email on social media before we announce it ourselves through our own social media channels. And please remember that these are distillery bottlings, not under the control of the Society, so we are unable to reserve bottles and you cannot place orders through the Society.

Slainte
Springbank Society

Springbank Distillers Ltd.

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

Friday, June 15, 2:30 – 5:30 PM

Single Malt Tasting:

 Glen Grant with Robin Coupar 

Join us for a tasting of Glen Grant single malt scotch, presented by global brand ambassador and whisky expert Robin Coupar!  Established in 1840, this centuries-old Speyside malt remains one of the biggest selling single malts in the world. Whisky ambassador Robin Coupar will present a guided tasting of Glen Grant’s new and rare releases, providing insider knowledge of what goes into making these incredible drams and the stories behind them. Pourlist to be revealed as event approaches- RSVP to keep up-to-date.

Click Here to RSVP

Ralfy introduces big peatiness, but not Islay peatiness with Ralfy Review 725 – Ledaig 13yo Amontillado malt @ 59.2%vol:

‘BURNING OF THE BEAR CEREMONY’ IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD WHISKY DAY AND ROYAL WEDDING AT SPIRITUAL HOME OF SCOTCH WHISKY 

The bear set aflame to celebrate the opening of the distillery

There can be no more unique way to celebrate World Whisky Day (19 May) than at the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, witnessing a 100ft high bear carving set aflame on a hillside.

On the hill overlooking our still-house, you will see a bear holding a ragged staff, ploughed into the ground. It is a depiction of the stone statue that was taken from the Abbot’s lodgings at the Abbey during the Reformation. The bear and ragged staff is a device of the Earls of Warwick – Guido, the first Abbot of Lindores, was a younger son of the Warwick family. Each year we light the outline of the bear to remind ourselves of the importance of our past and to toast the coming year’s distillate.

This year’s bear burning event will take place on World Whisky Day, 19 May, between 7pm and midnight.  There will be food, music and dancing; celebratory toasts to the bear and the newly married Harry and Meghan will be made with Lindores Abbey Aqua Vitae cocktails.

Tickets for 1494 Members are free, Preservation Society Members tickets are £10 and General Admission is £12.50 For further information, interviews and images, please contact Poppy McKenzie Smith

E: poppystill@lindoresabbeydistillery.com                T: +44 (0) 7446 074 308

Double cause for celebration as ambassadors are honoured at the launch of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2018

A five-day festival celebrating Scotland’s national drink kicks off in earnest today (Thursday, May 3) but revellers on Speyside – the spiritual home of the country’s whisky industry – have already had plenty cause for celebration.

A gala dinner to officially launch the start of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival took place last night, during which three winners were crowned with prestigious awards recognising those who have a special place in the event’s heart.

Festival goers from all over the globe joined those involved in the region’s whisky production to see industry veteran Ian Urquhart – a former managing director of world-renowned merchants Gordon & MacPhail – presented with the Spirit of Speyside Award.

Last night’s gala dinner at Benromach Distillery in Forres was something of a homecoming for Mr Urquhart, who played a significant role in Gordon & MacPhail’s decision to purchase the distillery. Production restarted there in 1998, and the host venue is celebrating 20 years of distilling under the company’s ownership this year.

Festival chairman James Campbell said: “Ian has played a pivotal role in developing the Scotch whisky industry at home and abroad and is an obvious choice for this very prestigious honour.

“He not only spent 41 years with Gordon & MacPhail, helping to steer it on the path to international growth and to become the multi-million-pound operation that it is today, but he played an integral part in getting Benromach back into production, leading to the creation of some of the finest malt whisky that Speyside has to offer.

“The festival also owes him a debt of gratitude: in his role as company secretary from 2006 to 2011, he played a key role in developing the event into the festival that we know and love today. Without his support, we would not be welcoming visitors from countries from Kazakhstan to El Salvador. We are now a truly international event, and that is in no small part down to Ian’s knowledge, passion and enthusiasm.”

In addition to his work with the whisky industry, Mr Urquhart is director and chairman of another famous Speyside firm – Johnstons of Elgin cashmere mill – and has been a past director of Food and Drink Scotland. He’s a deputy lord lieutenant of Moray and a director of tourism organisation North Coast 500 Ltd.

It was another leading light in the local tourism industry that picked up the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival ambassador award.  Laurie Piper, operations manager for Moray Speyside Tourism, has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the region since joining the organisation two years ago.

Mr Campbell said: “His buzzword in the past two years has been collaboration: he has achieved great things by helping town partnerships and local businesses work together to the same end results, and in doing so has ensured Moray Speyside is recognised far and wide as a great place to visit.”

Laurie, who has worked on several high-profile events over the years – including Edinburgh’s Hogmanay – has been instrumental in raising awareness of the local area with the travel trade, and many have now introduced new itineraries to include the Moray Speyside region. His work also led to BBC Countryfile naming the area as it’s only Scottish finalist in its Holiday Destination of the Year awards.

Germany was the destination for the third accolade of the night – the international ambassador award. It went to Peter Klas, a Cologne-based businessman who opened a Scottish luxury goods store after being inspired by a visit to the festival.

“One of the key events of the festival is the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards – a contest in which members of the public vote for their favourite Speyside whiskies following a blind taste test. The fact that these judging sessions are now held in a number of international destinations as well as here at the Festival is down to Peter,” said Mr Campbell.

“On one of his visits to the festival, we suggested that we could possibly visit Cologne and have a session of the whisky awards judging there. The rest, as they say, is history. We now hold awards in eight international destinations, and more will be added in future.

“Peter comes back to the Festival each year, bringing with him more and more of his friends. He stages two whisky tastings every day in his shop and we are incredibly grateful that he introduces people to our great Speyside whiskies, and recommends that they come to pay us a visit.”

Hundreds of guests attended the gala dinner, which kick-starts the festival. It takes place over the next five days and comprises over 500 events. From exclusive behind the scenes distillery tours and whisky and food pairings, to heritage walks embracing the local landscape and fun, family-friendly events, there is something for everyone on the programme.

The festival has now been running every May Day bank holiday weekend for the past 19 years. This year looks set to be one of the most successful yet, with a record breaking number of tickets sold.

A staggering 116 events sold out within 24 hours of tickets being launched, but revellers who are planning a last-minute trip to Scotland’s malt whisky country will still be able to find events to attend right up until Monday evening.

Details about events with ticket availability can be found at www.spiritofspeyside.com. There are also regular updates on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter. Use the hashtag #dram18 to search.

Picture captions

(From left to right) Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival chairman James Campbell with award winners Laurie Piper, Ian Urquhart and Peter Klas.