Irish Distillers Launches Grow Your Own Cocktail Web Series for Bartenders 

Global bartender platform ‘Jameson Hosts’ brings to life their global ‘Grow Your Own Cocktail’ web series with new videos and cocktail inspiration from around the world  

Bartenders are encouraged to join the global movement and combine local resources and ingredients with Jameson for the chance to win a cash prize    

Jameson Irish Whiskey, produced by Irish Distillers in Midleton Distillery, has launched a Grow Your Own Cocktail web series to promote local sourcing, collaboration and discovery among bartenders and local producers around the world.

Last year, the Jameson team brought bartenders, local farmers and producers together in communities across the globe to encourage mixologists to create locally inspired cocktails. The Jameson team captured all of their adventures, which fans can now enjoy as a six-part web series. The series will feature episodes from Dubai, Tel Aviv, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Stockholm and Cork, home to Irish Distillers’ Midleton Distillery, to educate and inspire the global bar community to use local and uniquely sourced ingredients.

Since the Grow Your Own Cocktail concept was born, Jameson has encouraged meaningful human connections between bars and their community through foraging, hosting masterclasses, and partnering with local expert craftspeople. This has inspired participants to embark on a journey of collaboration with local producers on a truly global scale.

Alongside the web series, Jameson is encouraging bartenders to proactively support their local community by joining the Grow Your Own Cocktail movement. Jameson is offering a €1,000 cash prize to be split equally between bartenders and producers who work in collaboration to create a Jameson cocktail using locally sourced ingredients. The competition will encourage bartenders to leverage their local environment by creating a signature drink with ingredients sourced from a farm, corner shop or local market and winners will be encouraged to invest their prize back into their community through further local sourcing.

Entrants simply post their cocktail on Instagram, outlining the local ingredients used, background to the collaboration, and explain why Jameson should support them, along with the hashtag #GrowYourOwnCocktail. The contest will judge each Bartender’s fresh new cocktail. How their new serve celebrates and supports both the local community and the smooth taste of Jameson –will also be rewarded.

Irish Distillers’ International Marketing Director Brendan Buckley explains, “The Grow Your Own Cocktail web series is integral in encouraging collaboration between the bar industry and their local craftspeople. The bar community has faced serious challenges in 2020, so now, more than ever the industry needs solidarity, creativity and innovation to help it through these times. It’s Jameson’s mission to support this creativity and encourage bartenders to use their own environments in truly innovative ways.

“The bartending community is at the heart of Jameson as the first advocates of our whiskey many years ago.  We can’t wait to see what bartenders and their wider communities come up with.”

Episodes of the web series are being released throughout August and September via @JamesonHosts on Instagram and the Jameson Irish Whiskey YouTube channel.

For more information on how to enter the competition, bartenders should head over to the @JamesonHosts Instagram page. All posts must tag @JamesonHosts and the deadline for entries is the September 14^th 2020.

Drinks with…Maltstock!

Saturday evening 12 September we have our online “Drinks with…Maltstock”.  All the tubes have now been filled with some very relaxed whiskies and will be send out in the next few days.

Join us!

But even if you haven’t got a tasting pack, you are still more than welcome to join us! We’ll be live on our Facebook page and our Youtube channel starting 8pm CET.

We are really looking forward to virtual meeting you all. And if you would like to join us live on air please do! If you have a question or a good story, don’t be shy. Or if you would just like to say hello, we would love to see you. Let us know and we’ll send you a link so we can connect.

Click here for our YouTube channel

Click here for our Facebook page

Drink Maltstock!

Many of you have already bought the very relaxed blended malt that Passion for Whisky will be bottling for Maltstock. Thank you, because not only are you getting a relaxed dram, you’re also supporting us, making sure we can continue Maltstock.

ORDER HERE

Get your bottle while you can!

It’s a beautiful 18-year-old blended malt. All details and tasting notes can be found on the Passion for whisky website. Please remember it is a single cask, so obviously limited availability. But please note that we won’t be keeping stock. Everything ordered before this Saturday will be bottled for Maltstock. And probably only a few extra. So if you don’t want to miss out, and you don’t because that is not relaxed, order your bottle(s) now.

Belgium

Delivery to Belgium is also possible, even though it seems like it’s not when ordering. But please contact the very relaxed owners of Passion for Whisky and they will make it happen.

And it’s available for a very relaxed price: € 99,95.

Blended malt
18 years old
Bottled by: Boogieman Import for Maltstock
Distilled: 08-2001
Bottled: 03-2020
Cask type: Butt
ABV: 46,2%
70 cl

It has been tried and approved by the knowledgeable and passionate Stefan and Michel. Who by the way own a very relaxed whisky shop that you should definitely check out:

www.passionforwhisky.com

Their tasting notes:

Nose: Malt, raisins, some coffeebeans, milk chocolate, but also some dry roasted nuts. Typical sherry notes ans some Belgium chocolate praline with hazelnut

Taste: First impression is some bitter sweet caramel. Not too sweet, but in great balance. The nutty chocolate ‘Nutella’ gives this dram its strength. But there is much more to discover in this glas. Honey, dark fruits, toasted bread, Masala Chai Tea.

Finish: Long with more toasted bread and tea leaves and a hint of cocoa

ORDER HERE

We hope to see many of you Saturday 12 September for the “Drinks with… Maltstock”. And please share and enjoy The Relaxed Dram. I know we will!

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan, Teun

Relax! We’ll be back in 2021!

Dates for next year are

10-12 September 2021

Ticket sales will start in September 2020.

We hope to see you all next year. That would be very relaxed!

A cocktail meant for the winner’s circle.

Celebrate the Derby at home with a cocktail meant for the winner’s circle. Serve it up for your guests or for yourself. Grab everything you need right from The Party Source, including the 2020 commemorative Kentucky Derby bottle of Woodford Reserve.

The Woodford Reserve Spire:

1 ½ oz Woodford Reserve

2 oz Lemonade

1 oz Cranberry Juice

Buy your commemorative bottle here!

What’s New?…

The wind is playing havoc here at TWL Lockdown HQ – feels like whisky weather is on its way…

Lots to talk to you about this week, with news of our next tasting pack and tasting, our long-awaited TWL Virtual Festival, plus information on our ‘real’ festivals.

So without further ado…

The Single Malts of Scotland
PACK & TASTING
Very excited about this one…

As you know, we are very keen on Indie bottlers, as they often present whiskies from distilleries you rarely see bottled and/or bottle at unfashionable age statements, when they deem them to be ready.

The Single Malts of Scotland (or SMOS as we affectionately call them) are the product of our friends at Elixir Distillers/Speciality Drinks. You can therefore be assured that the whiskies bottled are done so by geeks like us, who care more about the liquid than the packaging.

For the tasting itself, on Friday 4th September, we are delighted to announce we have none other than Elixir Brand Ambassador and good friend, Julie Hamilton presenting these whiskies for us. If you haven’t been at a tasting with Julie, you are in for a real treat, as she is one of the most engaging and ‘real’ people in the industry.

Not able to make the ‘live’ tasting? No problem, you can watch it anytime after it has taken place on our Facebook page…

The list of bottlings on tasting;

Clynelish 8 years old

Glen Elgin 12 years old

Benrinnes 13 years old

Linkwood 12 years old

Orkney 12 years old

Caol Ila 10 years old

Nice line-up right?

Once again, we will be giving £5 for each pack sold to The Drinks Trust, to help those in the drinks and hospitality industries in need during this time. There are only 90 of these packs, and places on the Zoom tasting, available. So hit ‘BUY’ below to secure your pack and place! Just to note that these packs do take a little while to get together, so please be patient. You will receive it before the tasting, but do not expect it within days of ordering it. Thanks!

Buy SMOS Tasting Pack Now

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL NEWS
GAME ON!

Introducing a brand NEW way to get your fix of Whisky Lounge, Whisky-Love – while staying safe and as socially-distanced as you like – The game-changing TWL Festival in a Box!

This live event in October will be a first for us – and you – as we engage with makers and ambassadors from all over the world, in new engaging ways, which we are unashamedly super-excited about.
This will not be just another online presentation, with tasting sessions, an interactive quiz and a special Desert Island Drams appearance from Eddie himself…

The festival will be broadcast on Facebook Live, so regardless of whether you have purchased a TWL Festival in Box you will be able to take part. And if you cannot make it on the day, you will be able to watch it back at your leisure.

And what about the whisky itself?

Well, we have thought of that too! Starting next week, we will be offering our exclusive ‘Festival in a Box’ packs. These boxes will have different themes, such as Scotch whiskies, English whiskies and World whiskies. Each one of these will contain whiskies and goodies relating to its relevant festival session.

If you have tickets for one of our 2020 festivals, you will be able to put the value of these tickets towards any of the packs. Bear in mind you may have to pay a little excess, but just think what you will save in un-needed Taxi or Uber costs!

(REAL) FESTIVAL UPDATE

So far we have had to postpone Bristol, London, Edinburgh and Liverpool festivals. Heartbreaking quite honestly, and it probably won’t stop there.

However, we have to remain positive and look forward to these later in the year, or in 2021, when we can hopefully put them on – safely of course.

So to reiterate, if you have a ticket for any of our 2020 festivals, and fancy taking part in the Festival in a Box, or one of our Virtual Tastings instead, you can!

Just send us an email to info@thewhiskylounge.com and tell us that’s what you’d like to do. There may be a small additional amount to pay (for the postage of the pack/s) but it won’t be much. You may also wish to hang on until the various ‘Festival in a Box’ packs are online next week.

Equally, if you are happy for us to simply move your booking to the corresponding session and event in 2021, you need do nothing. We will do this automatically if we hear nothing from you to say otherwise.

And finally…

But let’s make the most of it!

Don’t forget to catch up on the latest whisky news from Connas HERE and we look forward to seeing you – on-line – soon!

In the meantime – Stay Safe. Stay in. Have a dram.

Sláinte and best wishes,
Eddie, and the whole Whisky Lounge Team

2020 FESTIVALS

Current/Old Dates ~ New Dates
Bristol   18th April  TBC
London 15th-17th May  4th-6th September
Edinburgh 6th June  27th-29th Nov

Liverpool 19th September
Manchester 23rd-24th October
York 31st October
Nottingham 14th November

September 5th, 5:30PM: 

Virtual Israeli Whiskey Tasting: 

Milk and Honey Distillery w/Joshua Hatton

Milk & Honey Distillery is Israel’s first whisky distillery. They are dedicated to only genuine artisan manufacturing and committed to maintaining the highest standards following Scottish tradition. Although a young whisky, the hot and humid climate of Tel Aviv ensures a fast maturation giving the whisky a complexity of a much older whisky.

This tasting will be presented by whisky expert & “Keeper of the Quaich” Joshua Hatton.

Tasting Pourlist:

(click to purchase)

Milk and Honey Classic

Milk & Honey, Elements Sherry

Milk & Honey, Whisky In Bloom, Lightly Peated

We will also talk a little about M&H Elements Israeli Red Wine, a unique whiskey not yet available for purchase.

Click Here to RSVP 

10% Off all M&H whiskies

with coupon code ‘VIRTUAL‘ at checkout

We are delighted to announce that we are now taking bookings for our ‘ULTIMATE & WORLD WHISKY TASTING TOURS’

The Ultimate & World whisky tours are the perfect day out for anyone with a passion for lovingly crafted whisky. Both tours start with a visit to our magnificent distilling floor and one of our barrel warehouses, followed by an hour of tasting a flight of our own English whiskies in a private tasting room for the Ultimate Tour and a one hour tasting session of four whiskies from around the world on the World whisky tour.

This tour only takes place on one weekend a month, so be quick to book your place.

Covid arrangements:

To try and ensure some separation between bubbles during the tasting, we are limiting booking to a max 10 persons per tour and a min group / bubble size of 2.  This will allow us to place each bubble at a table during the tasting and of course keep some distance between the tables.

• Please do bring a mask, as you will need it to gain entry to the distillery building and whilst on the tour.
• As always – it is wise to ensure you have a driver or taxi booked if you want to sample all the whiskies. We do of course provide spittoons for those of you that need to drive yourself.

If you have a gift voucher to use, please email us at info@englishwhisky.co.uk with your voucher number and preferred date.

BOOK NOW

Join The W Club today – for free!

For one day only, buy any 70cl (or above) bottle exclusive to The Whisky Shop and you’ll receive a complimentary one-year membership for The W Club, worth £30!

Perks of The W Club include exclusive tasting events, Whisky Wednesday flash sales and access to members-only bottlings, including the upcoming Daftmill release. Learn more about our membership here.

The range of exclusives up for grabs include distillery bottlings that have been specially selected for The Whisky Shop and can’t be found anywhere else.

Alternatively, we have a wide selection of independently bottled single cask expressions from family-run bottler Hunter Laing & Co. of Glasgow, including the renowned Old Malt Cask series.

You only have 24 hours to grab this one-off special deal – don’t miss out! Start your whisky journey with us today.

Shop our exclusives and claim your free membership now ›

Unlocking the mystery (of Daftmill)…

Daftmill 2006 Single Cask #35 W Club Exclusive is finally on its way!

We’re beyond excited to announce that our highly-anticipated Daftmill bottling will be landing this October. Due to its extremely limited nature, bottles will only be available to purchase via a ballot system for members of The W Club only.

This ex-bourbon expression was chosen in January by the W Club’s Cask Committee; follow the link to our blog below to check out the behind-the-scenes of this exclusive cask selection!

Read about our Daftmill cask selection ›

Online Whisky Sale!

Get 10% off the following whiskies with the coupon code’VIRTUAL at checkout
10th Street
GlenAllachie
Glen Grant
Gouden Carolus
Macallan
Milk and Honey

Wyoming Whiskey

WIN: an exclusive tasting with The Macallan

Buy any 70cl bottle from The Macallan Double Cask range from our online shop before Sunday 30th August to be in with a chance of joining an exclusive online tasting with David Sinclair, Brand Ambassador for The Macallan.

All winning entrants will be selected at random after the competition’s end this Sunday. Winners will then be contacted and invited to join David Sinclair via a Zoom link for a private group tasting on Monday 7th September between 7:30pm and 8:30pm.

You only have one week to enter, so what are you waiting for? On your marks, get set…

Shop The Macallan Double Cask range to win ›

A collection containing several of the most sought after single malts whiskies has gone up for grabs for £2 entry on the competition site Raffall.com

One lucky winner will take home the entire collection for a small entry fee. The competition is global and open to anyone over the age of 18 to enter.

A rare opportunity to aquire this stunning whisky collection for only £2. This wonderful collection features rare single malts from prestigious distilleries including The Macallan, Springbank and Glendronach, to also include one CASK of GlenAllachie 5 YO whisky yielding 263 bottles at 70cl.

The highlight of my collection is The Macallan 1946 52 YO Select Reserve which is acclaimed to be ‘one of the greatest Macallan whiskies ever released’. Supported by a stunning line-up including a Macallan 30 Year Old Sherry Oak (Blue Label), a 1959 Macallan 80 ̊ Proof and various Vintage Glendronach’s including the highly regarded 1978 single cask #1067 (bottle number 1) and the 1968 25 YO, All Nippon Airways Exclusive.

If you love Springbank Distillery then you’ll be pleased to have the opportunity to own a super rare set of private, Christmas bottling’s for staff, directors and shareholders of the distillery. This collection consists of twelve years’ worth of extremely difficult to procure bottlings that rarely come onto the secondary market and surge in value year upon year.

After completing the UK’s first ever successful £1 house and car competition which was recently won by a family from Leeds and featured in most of the National Press, we have decided to use this opportunity to offer our collection to one lucky winner prior to moving to Australia.

Whether you wish to drink them, keep them for investment purposes or sell them, this collection will surely put you on track to achieving ‘whisky envy’ amongst your friends and family. For only £2 entry, you could be the proud new owner.

Rules for entering this competition: This is a global competition; entrants must be over the age of 18 to enter the draw. Once the competition closes, the winner will be contacted to arrange delivery of your prize. We aim to ship anywhere in the world and have included local duties / import taxes within the competition fund, the winner shall not be responsible for any fees. Please note, should your local State or Country not permit the shipment of alcohol then the prize will be securely stored in Scotland (UK) awaiting your collection at no charge. The competition will close early once all ticket sales have been reached and the winner announced before the closing date in this instance.