Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 266: Ardbeg Grooves

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries an Ardbeg! This Grooves was the limited release for Ardbeg Day 2018. Mark admits that he was a bit Ardbeg-tired as he felt the special releases did not live up to the standard range. So his expectations for this Grooves were not that high. By the way: Grooves refers to the… err… grooves that appear when charring the red wine casks that were used for this release. But despite his misgivings, this turned out to be a fun and interesting expression!

https://youtu.be/pI5bqTPCq9Y

IRISH DISTILLERS SWEEPS THE BOARD AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE 

Irish Distillers, makers of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, has regained its ‘World Whisky Producer of the Year’ crown at the International Spirits Challenge – winning the Trophy for the first time since 2016 at the prestigious awards ceremony in London last night.

Caption: The Irish Distillers team collect the World Whisky Producer of the Year Trophy at the 2019 ISC ceremony

Irish Distillers scooped the highest recognition for World Whisky at the competition after scoring the highest medals across its family of Irish whiskeys – beating out whiskey portfolios from Ireland, Japan and the USA. The result follows a stellar year at the competition for Midleton Distillery in which it scooped an outstanding 24 medals, including four new Double Gold medals.

Introduced to celebrate the very best in show, whiskeys across the Jameson, Powers and Midleton

ranges were the only Irish whiskeys tasted at the competition to receive the Double Gold honour in 2019. Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy, introduced in 2011 as part of Irish Distillers’ commitment to rejeavenating the single pot still Irish whiskey category, scooped a Double Gold medal and also went on to win the Tasting Tropy for the best Irish whiskey.

The International Spirits Challenge also honoured Midleton Very Rare 2018, Powers Three Swallows Release and the newly-released Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength with Double Gold medals, in addition to 5 Gold medals for Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition, Jameson 18 Year Old, Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength, Redbreast 21 Year Old and Powers Gold Label.

On the continued success of the 2019 awards season, Master Distiller Brian Nation commented: “We are delighted to reclaim our place as World Whisky Producer of the Year at the ISC and to see such excellent results continue across the portfolio as we move further into the 2019 awards season. It’s fantastic to see the Midleton Very Rare family perform so well – an appropriate accolade for the pinnacle of Irish whiskey. These awards are a tribute to the craftsmen and women at Midleton Distillery Co. Cork, past and present, who work tirelessly to produce whiskeys of unrivalled quality. We look forward to seeing what the remainder of the 2019 will bring!”

Now in its 24th year, the International Spirits Challenge is one of the oldest spirits tasting competitions of its kind, promoting outstanding quality spirits from across the globe for almost a quarter of a century. The competition is founded on a rigorous and independent judging process, which serves to encourage the high calibre of spirits, designs and campaigns entered into the competition each year. 

Notes  

Full results from the International Spirits Challenge 2019:

• Irish Distillers – World Whisky Producer of the Year
• Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy – Tasting Trophy / Double Gold medal
• Powers Three Swallow Release – Double Gold medal
• Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength (Batch 1) – Double Gold medal
• Midleton Very Rare 2018 – Double Gold medal
• Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength – Gold medal
• Redbreast 21 Year Old – Gold medal
• Powers Gold Label – Gold medal
• Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition – Gold medal
• Jameson 18 Year Old – Gold medal
• Jameson Irish Whiskey – Silver medal
• Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition – Silver medal
• Jameson Signature – Silver medal
• Jameson Crested – Silver medal
• Jameson Black Barrel – Silver medal
• Jameson Cooper’s Croze – Silver medal
• Jameson Blender’s Dog – Silver medal
• Jameson Distiller’s Safe – Silver medal
• Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest – Silver medal
• Red Spot Single Pot Still – Silver medal
• METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still – Silver medal
• Redbreast 12 Year Old – Silver medal
• Redbreast Lustau Edition – Silver medal
• Redbreast 15 Year Old – Silver medal
• Powers John’s Lane 12 Years Old – Silver medal 

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 29 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 7.3m cases in 2018. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 80 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €250m to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin. 

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of €8,987 million in FY18. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,900 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 86 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

Wolfburn Wins Top International Honours

Wolfburn’s Langskip single malt whisky has scooped the coveted ‘Best In Show’ award – and won a double gold medal – at the Singapore World Spirits Competition. Langskip also surpassed 29 other brands to be voted ‘Best Scotch Whisky’. It is the second such honour awarded to Langskip following its 2018 release, having already been awarded a double gold medal at the 2018 FiftyBest awards in the US.  Wolfburn’s inaugural Northland expression also won a gold medal at the FiftyBest awards.

“Our hand-crafted whisky is made, matured and bottled on-site by a small but dedicated team of distillers. We’re incredibly proud of the way Wolfburn is made,” says Mark Westmorland, Global Brand Ambassador. “We do everything the traditional way, with great care, and without haste. The resulting whisky continues to win fans all around the world. It’s a wonderful project to be associated with and we’re all hugely proud of what the distillery is achieving.”

The distillery itself has also been bestowed with honours, recently being acclaimed ‘Best Scotch Craft Distillery in the World’ by the highly prestigious Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Masters.  Wolfburn’s whisky is now distributed in 27 countries globally.

Photographs:

1. Wolfburn range of whiskies
2. Wolfburn Distillery production team: L-R: Iain Kerr (manager), Charlie Fraser, Max Paul, Charlie Ross, Innes Mackintosh

ABOUT WOLFBURN:

The original Wolfburn Distillery was founded just to the west of Thurso by William Smith in 1821.  In its day it was one of the largest distilleries in Scotland, producing, according to HMRC records, 28,056 “gallons of proof spirit” in a single year.  Taking its name from the stream that provided the water – the Wolf Burn – the distillery operated until around 1870.  The reasons for its closure are lost in time, but by 1877 the newly produced Ordnance Survey maps showed it being in ruins.

In 2011 plans were laid to resurrect the old distillery. Construction began in 2012 and in January 2013 the new Wolfburn Distillery commenced production, thereby becoming the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland.  Situated 300m from the site of the original distillery, the new Wolfburn operates in much the same way as the old: craftsmen use traditional methods to produce fine spirit, which is laid down in best quality oak casks to await the day when it is bottled as single malt scotch whisky.  Wolfburn’s single malt scotch whiskies are now available in 27 countries globally.

Wolfburn Distillery, Henderson Park, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7XW

www.wolfburn.com

www.facebook.com/wolfburn

HISTORIC DAY AHEAD FOR EDINBURGH AND WHISKY INDUSTRY AS DISTILLERY REVEALS OPENING DATE  

Holyrood Distillery announces an opening date of 30 July and launches bookings for visitor tours 

Holyrood Distillery, which will be the first single malt whisky distillery in the centre of Edinburgh for almost 100 years, has today revealed its opening date of 30 July, while also launching bookings for its tour experiences.

Bookings for Holyrood’s range of daily guided distillery tours, all of which focus on exploring flavour, are now open via its website at https://www.holyrooddistillery.co.uk/tours/ with tickets for adults starting at £14.

The opening day and first tour of the distillery on Tuesday 30 July will be a historic occasion for the capital and the whisky industry, as there hasn’t been an operational single malt distillery in central Edinburgh since 1925 when The Edinburgh Distillery (aka Glen Sciennes) closed.

The distillery, which will produce single malt whisky alongside a range of gins and gin liqueurs, has been built in a former railway goods shed dating back to 1831. Located on the edge of Holyrood Park and close to popular Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues The Pleasance and George Square, the new distillery is within easy walking distance of the city’s main attractions, including The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is also a short walk or bus ride from Waverley Station.

With its central location, visitor experiences and shop, the aim is to offer a major visitor attraction for both tourists and locals. The distillery will focus on the creation of maximum flavour in all the spirits it produces.

Holyrood Distillery is the notion of Canadian Rob Carpenter who, in 2013, first had the idea for a distillery and visitor experience in central Edinburgh. Rob, who founded the Canadian branch of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society together with his wife Kelly, has brought his vision to life in partnership with co-founder David Robertson, who has 25 years’ experience in the industry.

Spirit production will be handled by distillery manager Jack Mayo, previously of The Glasgow Distillery, alongside distillers Ollie Salvesen and Elizabeth Machin. All three are graduates of Heriot-Watt University’s renowned Brewing and Distilling course. In total, the project has already created 30 new jobs.

Holyrood Distillery’s founder Rob Carpenter said: “I’m thrilled to announce that we’ll open the doors to our distillery on Tuesday 30th July. It’s been an incredible journey to get to this point, and to be able to bring back single malt whisky back to the heart of Edinburgh for the first time in almost 100 years is a true privilege. A big thank you is also owed to our neighbours who have been patient with the build over the past year.”

Debs Newman, Holyrood’s Visitor Experience director, added: “Today is a big day for us as we open up our bookings for our range of tours. Offering great tours for our visitors is an integral part of the distillery design, and there are a range of tours available to visitors to suit all levels of interest, with even more variety to come in future.

“Given our location in the centre of Edinburgh, we’re within easy walking distance of the city’s major attractions so we’re ready to welcome everyone, from locals to tourists, to explore what we have created and the amazing world of flavour in both whisky and gin.”

Further information:

Holyrooddistillery.co.uk

Twitter @Holyroodwhisky

Facebook @Holyrooddistillery

Instagram @Holyrooddistillery

Notes:

• Holyrood Distillery will open to the public in July 2019.  It is the first single malt whisky distillery in the heart of Edinburgh for almost 100 years. The last working distillery in the capital was Andrew Usher’s Edinburgh Distillery (aka Glen Sciennes) which closed in 1925
• The distillery project cost approximately £6.7m, backed by £5.8m fundraising
• The build took a year and the distillery is housed in a Class B listed building built in 1831 as part of one of the first railways in the UK
• Holyrood Distillery will focus on innovation and the creation of robust flavours through different production approaches, initially focusing on four flavour profiles:
  • Smoky
  • Fruity / Floral
  • Sweet
  • Spicy

• The team’s three distillers are Dr Jack Mayo, distillery manager; Ollie Salvesen, Distiller; Elizabeth Machin, Distiller
• Holyrood Distillery was founded by Canadian couple, Rob and Kelly Carpenter and Scot, David Robertson. Rob co-founded the Canadian branch of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society with wife Kelly, while David has 25 years’ experience in the industry with The Macallan and The Dalmore as well as co-founding Rare Whisky 101
• As well as distilling single malt whisky, Holyrood Distillery produces award-winning gins and liqueurs on its specially designed gin still
• The distillery, which is located in the heart of Edinburgh, features a visitor centre and shop. Tours and tasting experiences will run daily throughout the year

Exclusive Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Bottling

One Giant Leap Deanston 10 Year Old

Friday the 19th of July, 2019, Fife, Scotland

Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, is proud to release an exclusive single malt Scotch whisky distilled at Deanston Distillery to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing in 1969.

One Giant Leap
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Deanston 10 Year Old, 2009 Vintage

On the 20th of July 1960 Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon in what was one of the most historic, scientific, culturally significant events of the 20th Century. Those famous words spoken by Armstrong really do sum up the event – “one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” And fifty years on, we’re all still talking about it.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, TheWhiskyBarrel.com has selected a single cask of Deanston single malt Scotch whisky. Distilled in March 2009, this whisky has been aged for 10 years before bottling in June 2019 at 61.6% ABV. Matured in a single American oak first fill Pedro Ximenez sherry hogshead (cask reference #WB1003), this whisky is limited to just 276 numbered bottles.

Deanston Distillery was established near Doune in 1965, the same decade as the Moon landing. It is located within a huge old weaving mill dating from 1785 and distillation commenced in 1966. This is a Highland malt whisky distillery equipped with an open topped cast iron mash tun and four gleaming copper stills.

Available exclusively from TheWhiskyBarrel.com, shipping to customers Worldwide including the United States of America, Canada and Japan.

One Giant Leap Deanston 10 Year Old | 2009 | TheWhiskyBarrel.com | 61.6%

Tasting notes
Colour: Deep sherry.
Nose: Rich, sweet and fruity sherry notes. Milk chocolate coated raisins.
Taste: Stewed soft fruits with abundant ripe plums and sun kissed raisins. Dark brown sugar and a hint of citrus.
Finish: Long, sweet and spice finish. Dried fruits and a hint of pepper.

Price: £120 GBP inc VAT / $122USD (+ P&P) *

The Whisky Barrel    E: info@thewhiskybarrel.com
Visit www.thewhiskybarrel.com
Find us on: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Notices

Q) What is the product called?
A)  One Giant Leap Deanston 10 Year Old 2009 Exclusive.

Q) When will this product be released/was it released?
A) Friday the 19th of July 2019.

Q) Where is it available?
A) Scotland, off-trade, TheWhiskyBarrel.com.

Q) Is this product already available in other markets?
A) Scotland only, TheWhiskyBarrel.com ships worldwide.

Q) How much is it?
A) £120GBP / $122USD (+ P&P)

Q) Who handles the product’s distribution?
A) In-house at TheWhiskyBarrel.com.

Q) How many bottles are there?
A) 276 bottles from a single cask limited to one bottle per customer.

Q) What is the ABV of this product?
A) 61.6% ABV natural cask strength.

Q) Why has this product been launched?
A) Limited Edition single cask exclusive for TheWhiskyBarrel.com whisky shop.

Notes

The Whisky Barrel is a specialist online whisky and spirits merchant based in Fife, Scotland and  was established in 2007. In 2019 The Whisky Barrel won The Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade. The Whisky Barrel is also a winner of the Whisky Magazine Online Retailer 2018 and was International Wine & Spirits Competition runner-up in 2016.

*N.B. Prices correct at the time of publishing and are subject to currency fluctuation.

Amrut AATMA

Indian Single Malt Whisky 

“Aatma is a Hindi word meaning “Soul” or “Spirit” which we thought was an appropriate name for a Single Cask offering, as it reflects the soul of the whisky. It is non-chill filtered, and has no color added. This will be a collector’s portfolio whisky. This seven year old whisky is rare. The climate for whisky aged in Bangalore, India equates to whisky from Scotland that is more than 3 times the actual age, so the taste profile is similar to a 21 year old or greater.”

PRICE: $250/btl

Welcome to another alcohol fueled episode of the show. This week I’ll be looking at seven single cask, cask strength bottlings from theses two iconic distilleries!

https://youtu.be/4rYBk9DTZLc

JULY AUCTION NOW LIVE!
(ends Sunday 28th July)

…place your bids at www.whiskyhammer.co.uk

With an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits there is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest, enjoy!

Heaven Hill Distillery Launches “Tales from the Hill” Podcast

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery today launched a new podcast, “Tales from the Hill,” to share the story of Heaven Hill in a way that has never been done before. Produced by Mark Gillespie, host of the number one whiskey podcast “WhiskyCast,” Tales from the Hill takes an intimate, in-depth look at the people, places and products that have shaped Heaven Hill Distillery since 1935.

Season one takes the listener on a six-episode a journey into the heritage and legacy of Heaven Hill. Each episode contains exclusive interviews from the people who know Heaven Hill best and provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at how Heaven Hill went from filling the first barrel to a portfolio of award-winning whiskeys almost 85 years later. From President Max Shapira to expert taster Tawnie Gootee, each person interviewed provides listeners with a window into the largest independent, family-owned and operated distillery in America.

Explore how Heaven Hill’s tradition of distilling informs today’s decisions to nurture American Whiskey toward a more vibrant future. Listen to the introductory episode and episode one now, with new episodes available every Tuesday for the next five weeks following the launch date. Learn more, subscribe, listen, and review here.

Where to listen:

• HeavenHillDistillery.com/Podcast
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Play
• Smart Speakers (Echo/Alexa, Google Home, SonosOne)

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.5 million barrels aging in 58 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Best in Show Whiskey, and previously held titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year and 2016 Rye Whiskey of the Year from “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Vintage Macallans headline exceptional July Auction

Auction Ends Sunday 21^st @ 8pm!

The Macallan 72 Years Old headlines an extraordinary July auction of rare and valuable bottles at Just Whisky Auctions, with over 175 lots from Macallan alone spanning decades of releases by the world’s most renowned distillery. A plethora of 2018 releases including the 52 Years Old and 50 Years Old are joined by an exceptional array of vintage releases. From oddities like ‘The New Range Rover’ to old-style releases like the cask-strength collection, through to legendary bottlings like the 1949 Millenium Edition and 1948 Select Reserve, rarely have so many Unicorn Macallans been auctioned at once.

Macallan 72 Years Old – Lot 680861

Macallan’s oldest ever whisky was released in 2018 to great fanfare and rightly so, with every drop miraculously surviving a lifetime in cask. Launched as a Genesis Decanter to celebrate the opening of the new distillery, the 72 Years Old is a meeting of the respected past and bold future of Macallan – incredibly mature spirit, housed in an elegant bottle created by Lalique to mirror the new Macallan’s strikingly futuristic design.

Macallan 1949 Millenium Edition – Lot 680988

Launched to celebrate the coming of the Millenium (remember that?), this now legendary bottle comes complete with a key to keep it locked in its beautiful hard-wood display case. Ironically, behind a lock and key is where the Millenium normally stays hidden, with few making it to auction. Distilled 14^th January 1949, this is Macallan of the old-school – great aged whisky presented with a sense of refinement.

Macallan 1948 Select Reserve – Lot 681001

This exquisitely presented Macallan is one of just 366 bottles, each given an individual day of the year for 1948 (a leap year) to act as a unique identifier, with no two bottles the same. Unusually for Macallan, the 1948 Select Reserve is heavily peated and smoky due to the post-war rationing of coal in Britain forcing the distillery to malt with a higher amount of peat than it otherwise would. Bottled in 1999 after 51 years of maturation exclusively in Sherry casks, the 1948 is a time-capsule showcasing a style of Macallan that will never be made again.

These and 1,100 other lots are all open for bidding until Sunday at 8pm UK time

www.just-whisky.co.uk