Mark the Date for 2020!
Spirit of Toronto returns to Roy Thomson Hall on Saturday, April 20 and we look forward to welcoming you back then! The on-sale date for our box office will be announced in December; until then we invite you to relive the good times (and good spirits) as recorded in this years photo gallery below:
Spirit of Toronto 2019 on Flickr
Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice – buy it for its 1999 price
Continuing our 20th anniversary celebrations, we’re selling a fabled bottle of whisky for its original 1999 price – a whisky selling for £7,500 in 2019 for just £99. There’s just one catch: we’ve only got one to sell at that price. Head to the bottom of this post to learn more about the ballot we’re running for the chance to buy the bottle, but read on to learn a bit more about the whisky itself – Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice.
Just as The Whisky Exchange made its first tentative steps online twenty years ago, Ardbeg distillery was also beginning a new era.
Learn more about our 20th anniversary celebrations >
Stories of Ardbeg go back to the early 1800s, but its more recent history is more chequered than its illustrious past. Reopened by Glenmorangie in 1997, the distillery was still finding its feet in 1999, with a new team firing up the stills after 16 years of intermittent operation and occasional silence.
Whisky takes time, and with very little younger whisky available, the distillery team dug deep into the warehouses to find gems to share with whisky fans while they waited for their own spirit to mature. In 1999, the Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice was released, putting Ardbeg firmly back on the map.
Selected by distillery manager Stuart Thomson, cask #2391 was found hidden in warehouse #10 and was only available to visitors to the distillery. Distilled on 4 November 1976 and bottled by hand at 22 years old on 23 June 1999, every bottle was hand-numbered and signed by Stuart.
The whisky perfectly balanced the character of cask and spirit, with rich dried fruit, tobacco and worn leather poised against tarry ropes, singed oranges and tropical fruit. An incredible marriage that wowed those lucky to get one of the 497 bottles yielded by the cask.
It currently sits with an average score of 93/100 from the Malt Maniacs and 94.77 on Whiskybase, the 55th highest ranked of the 128,000 whiskies in its database and one of six Ardbeg 1976s in the top 100 – a truly legendary combination of distillery and vintage.
The Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice opened the door for the distillery’s rise to fame. More 1976 releases followed, with the Manager’s Choice’s sister casks picking up almost as much praise as the original – earlier years became known for bourbon-matured whisky from the distillery, but the 1976 vintage was all about the sherry.
Whisky Exchange co-founder Sukhinder Singh was fortunate enough to try the run of 1976’s head-to-head in a tasting: “They were all stunning, but in the end it came to just two – the Manager’s Choice and the Feis Ile 2002 special edition. Depending on the day, either could have come out on top, it was so close. On that day, the Manager’s Choice took it.”
Today, the distillery’s releases focus on the spirit produced since reopening, winning awards and fans around the world. Whiskies like the Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice are now rare and much sought-after – a time capsule of how the whisky world has changed over the past two decades.
Whisky Exchange co-founders Rajbir and Sukhinder Singh with the ballot bottle of Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice
Launched at just £99 per bottle, it has steadily risen in value over the years. With only 497 bottles to start with, the number left has slowly fallen as they have been opened and enjoyed. Now, the few remaining bottles change hands for many times the original price, and we are very pleased to have found one to sell in our 20th Anniversary ballot.
It’s simple: head over to the Ardbeg 1976 ballot page, click “Enter Ballot” and then checkout as usual – you won’t be charged unless you are the winner of the ballot.
The ballot closes on 22 September 2019, so don’t delay – get yourself entered.
UNIQUE PRIZE GOES ON SHOW TO TEE UP HIGHLAND PRO AM EVENT
A unique prize in Scottish golf is going on display as the countdown begins to a prestigious event which tees off this month.
The Highland Golf Links Pro Am sponsored by Tomatin will be held from 30 September to 2 October at three leading championship courses – Castle Stuart Golf Links, Royal Dornoch Golf Club and The Nairn Golf Club.
In addition to the winner’s cheque, the top professional will this year collect a bottle of Tomatin 50-year-old single malt which has been bottled exclusively for the tournament and is valued at more than £10,000.
In the build-up to the PGA in Scotland Tour event, the valuable prize will be displayed at the Tomatin Distillery visitor centre from Tuesday 10 September until Friday 20 September.
Stuart McColm, general manager at Castle Stuart and Pro Am organiser, said: “The Highland Golf Links Pro Am is already one of the richest events in the PGA in Scotland Tour, but the addition of this prize by our headline sponsor means it offers something different to any other golf competition in Scotland.”
Stephen Bremner, managing director of the globally-renowned Tomatin Distillery, said: “The 50-year-old malt is a very special whisky, which is fitting for such an outstanding event at three of the finest courses in Scotland.”
Having matured for half a century, the deep-honey coloured malt is encased in a handblown Glencairn crystal decanter. This is presented in an Italian- crafted wooden box, furnished with soft, premium Italian leather, and comes with its own, individually-numbered book, signed by Distillery Manager, Graham Eunson.
As well as the winning pro prize, Tomatin is supplying all amateur players in the event an exclusive bottle of 16-year-old single malt from a commemorative cask.
The Pro Am has attracted more than 50 teams from across the UK, Europe and the USA. Amateur players include BBC journalist and broadcaster Naga Munchetty, Sky Sports reporter Sarah Stirk and talkSPORT radio host Georgie Bingham.
Pro golfer and BBC golf reporter Alan Tait will captain the Caste Stuart team which will also feature BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter.
The event has attracted new corporate partners, TaylorMade and Black Isle Brewery, while other sponsors include the Kingsmills Hotel and Culloden House hotel, clothing manufacturers Private Estate and communications company System2.
There are still a few spaces available at the event. If you would like to enter visit https://www.hglproam.com
Friday September 27th 5-7PM:
Local Whiskey:
Sonoma Distilling Co
Sonoma Co. Distillery, founded in 2010 in the heart of Sonoma County is California’s premier whiskey distillery. Their ‘grain-to-glass’ approach to whisky brings a hands on quality to every bottling, producing a delicious selection of bourbons and ryes.
Saturday, September 21st 1-4 PM
BenRiach, Glendronach, Glenglassaugh
Presented by whisky expert Rory Glasgow, this in-store tasting features new and rare drams by BenRiach, Glendronach, and Glenglassaugh distillery. Scotch connoisseurs and newcomers to the the world of traditional scotch are sure to enjoy this tasting.
Continuing the annual tradition of hosting its fans, Forty Creek’s distillery will open its doors in Grimsby, Ontario to offer fans unprecedented behind-the-scenes access with tours, tastings and seminars for a fully immersive experience.
For the first time ever, Forty Creek will be hosting a concert on the Saturday night, where attendees will have the chance to see three Canadian performers for only $10.00! Hollerado, will be performing with special guests Terra Lightfoot and Kris Barclay.
Tickets to concert
https://whisky-weekend-2019.myshopify.com/products/in-concert-with-hollerado
Tickets to Seminars
https://whisky-weekend-2019.myshopify.com/collections/seminars
Whisky Weekend is a celebration of all things Canadian and this year is a special event as it will be launching Victory, a limited-release that commemorates the 205th anniversary of the Engagement at the Forty, a battle between American forces and combination of local militants, indigenous peoples and the British Navy during the War of 1812. The battle took place near where today stands the Forty Creek Distillery and was critical in preventing the further advancement of American troops.
With Victory, Forty Creek continues the tradition of experimentation in aging with unique types of wood. Master Blender, Bill Ashburn selected only his best Canadian Whisky to further age with the addition of vanilla wood staves. The resulting whisky was then artfully blended, resulting in a product that is signature Forty Creek.
The Forty Creek Victory 2019 limited release will be available to the public for the first time at the distillery during Whisky Weekend (September 21st and September 22nd).
Seminars
Deconstructing Victory – ft. Chris Thompson and Bill Ashburn
Saturday 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Mixology 101 ft. Doug Blendell
Saturday 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Dispelling Canadian Whisky Myths – ft. Chris Thompson and Blair Phillips
Saturday 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Deconstructing Victory – ft. Chris Thompson and Bill Ashburn
Sunday 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Mixology 101 – ft. Doug Blendell
Sunday 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Dispelling Canadian Whisky Myths – ft. Chris Thompson and Blair Phillips
Sunday 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Saturday September 14th 2-5PM:
Glen Grant with Robin Coupar
Join us for a tasting of Glen Grant single malt scotch, presented by global brand ambassador and whisky expert #RobinCoupar! Established in 1840, this centuries-old Speyside malt remains one of the biggest selling single malts in the world.
About Robin Coupar:
Robin Coupar has spent over 26 years in the scotch industry on innovation and developing new liquid expressions. A native of Edinburgh, his passion and knowledge of whisky started in Scotland but extended well beyond to famous international brands, including Moet Hennesy and Diageo before accepting his current position as Global Whisky Advocate for Campari Group’s whisky portfolio. In 2016 he was inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich.
LOUISVILLE SPEED ART MUSEUM UNVEILS RARE
WHISKEYS UP FOR BID
“Art of Bourbon” Auction Offer Bidders Chance to Own History
LOUISVILLE, KY September 9, 2019 — The Speed Art Museum unveiled a stunning lineup for its second online and live bourbon auction on September 19 featuring some of the rarest and most prized bourbons and ryes available anywhere.
Here’s a tasting of the most sought-after lots up for bid:
T.W. Samuels Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Bottle in Bond, 1942 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000
Quite possibly one of the rarest American whiskeys in the world. It was bottled before the government ceased distilling operations in 1942 for the World War II effort, before Maker’s Mark, before the iconic red dripping wax, and before whiskey-maker Bill Samuels Jr.’s father allegedly burned the family recipe. Before all of it.
Eight. Bottles. Of. Pappy.
Referred to as the bourbon so exclusive that even billionaires can’t buy it. But what makes this lot of Pappy Van Winkle even rarer? Five bottles are auctioned as a group. Sold as part of Julian P. Van Winkle III’s private collection, each bottle has been personally signed by Van Winkle specifically for this non-profit auction. This lot could bring as much as $15,000 at auction.
Auctioned individually and signed by Van Winkle:
With demand far exceeding supply coupled with purchasing limits, “you can’t even buy eight bottles of Pappy at one time,” said renowned bourbon author Fred Minnick, auction curator and editor of Bourbon+ Magazine.
Van Winkle acknowledged that while many collectors and enthusiasts will be eyeing this valuable brown water, he’s particularly pleased the family can support the Speed Museum. “Of course we’re going to donate to the Speed. It’s our way of stepping-up and contributing to a worthwhile cause and I can’t think of a better reason to share Pappy,” said Van Winkle, Pappy’s grandson and a third generation whiskey maker.
Overholt Rye 1909 Estimate: $15,000
So elusive that it’s considered the unicorn of whiskeys and has enough star power to entice the most serious of collectors. It remains today one of the best reviewed, most sought after and rarest old whiskies known. Specifically bottled for the Mellon family and solely auctioned at Christie’s, it hasn’t seen an auction block in years.
“A 1.5-ounce pour will set you back $1,250, and that’s if you can even get it,” said Minnick. “It has such a historic taste. They just don’t make whiskey like that anymore.”
In many ways, Overholt Rye’s distinguished provenance rivals the bottle’s contents:
Maker’s Mark Barrel Selection: Your Own Unique Barrel of Maker’s Mark and Dale Chihuly Artwork Estimate: $20,000 – $25,000
Hands down this is considered the best, once-in-a-lifetime experience in American whiskey. As personal guests of Maker’s Mark Chief Distillery Officer Rob Samuels, an 8th generation whiskey maker, the winning bidder and nine friends won’t simply select a barrel at Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Ky. Instead, the winner gets to create his/her own special Maker’s Mark “taste vision.” Using the same process as head honcho Bill Samuels Jr. did when he created Maker’s 46, the Samuels will work alongside you to formulate a personalized, never-been-made barrel of Maker’s Mark bourbon.
Maker’s Mark upped the ante for the night: Bringing art and bourbon together in a way that only Maker’s Mark can offer, the winner will also receive a rare piece of iconic Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork, gifted from the distillery’s private collection.
“I’ve always felt a deep connection between fine art and the vision my grandparents created at Maker’s Mark, which was all about the painstaking attention to detail it takes to handcraft something truly unique,” said Samuels. “They also believed it was important to give back to the community in meaningful ways. So it seems a natural fit for us to provide this once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate that shared vision and support the remarkable work of the Speed Museum.”
This specific bourbon offering has never been offered before and the Chihuly addition further sets the exclusive tone for this auction. The bidder gets a complete Loretto, Ky. experience that no private individual has ever had. To top it off, Maker’s Mark donated a dinner at the distillery’s Star Hill Provisions with a special menu created by Chef Newman Miller, a Top Chef judge.
John Poindexter Old Bourbon Estimate: $5,000
Bottled during Prohibition, this vintage “dusty bottle” was distilled in Spring 1916 and bottled in 1928 by the James E. Pepper Distillery in Harrison Country, Ky. During Prohibition, six companies could legally sell “medicinal” whiskey, all of it bottled-in-bond at 100 proof and government stamped. This pint, aged 12 years, would have had to be prescribed by a doctor and labeled “medicinal” during a time when it was illegal to sell alcohol but legal to prescribe.
“It’s so rare because these bottles just don’t exist anymore. And as a collector, it’s very frustrating because they’re going extinct,” said Minnick.
W.L. Weller Centennial 10-Year-Old Estimate: $2,000 – $5,000
Bottled in the late 1990s, this ultra-rare private barrel selection may have been one of the first Buffalo Trace products bottled shortly after the distillery acquired Weller from United Distillers in 1999.
This bottle, which does not come up for auction often, is a 10-year-old wheated bourbon distilled at Stitzel-Weller and bottled at Buffalo Trace. It’s one of the most sought after and legendary bottles because of its link to the W.L. Weller Bourbon Heritage Collection.
“This particular bottle is causing some serious buzz among collectors,” said Minnick. “This seems to be the one that could surprise us all.”
Other notables among the 54 lots offered
In addition to the above auction items, the Art of Bourbon will include other lots of covetable whiskeys and bourbon-related packages. Organizers expect the online portion of the event to draw interest from serious bourbon enthusiasts and connoisseurs from around the globe.
“We wanted our distillery to shine right out of the gate at this auction, so we donated special items that we knew all levels of bourbon collectors would be eyeing,” said Kyle Henderson, of Angle’s Envy. Henderson is the distillery’s production manager and is son and grandson, respectively, of Angel’s Envy legendary co-founders Wes Henderson and Lincoln Henderson.
Angel’s Envy donated a bottle of each 2013-18 Cask and a bottle of the Angel’s Envy grand opening release, the first port barrel ever filled in 2010. This 100-proof port was privately released for the distillery in 2016 and was never available to the public. It could bring as much as $5,000 at the event. “It’s our way of thanking the Speed for continuing to bring arts to the community,” said Henderson.
Louisville-based Brown-Forman pledged its support to the Museum event by donating many high-profile items, including a coveted bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, 2008.
“It’s funny and, in this case, exciting what we find tucked away in our closets. Uncovering this 2008 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon was a bit of a happy surprise. We’re thrilled it will be part of the Speed auction this year,” said Campbell Brown, president and managing director of Old Forester, and a fifth generation descendent of company founder George Garvin Brown.
That particular Birthday Bourbon release date is widely praised and even given an astounding 96 rating by Whiskey Advocate’s founder John Hansell, who is heralded as having one of the great whiskey palates of a generation.
“You do not come across this much anymore,” said Brown. “Arguably the crowd favorite of the bunch thus far. Hurts a little to put this in an auction, but for the Speed, happy to wave goodbye to this delicious bottle.” It’s estimated to bring $2,500 at auction.
Brown also is donating a bottle of the storied King of Kentucky Bourbon, which could bring as much as $2,000 at auction. The second-year limited release is of a 15-year-old bourbon, presented non-chill filtered at barrel strength.
Another Brown-Forman bottle up for bid: the Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition. It is the traditional Woodford Reserve that’s aged for an additional three years in XO Cognac casks and bottled in handmade crystal decanters from artists at Baccarat. Having tasted it direct from the barrel, Minnick noted this is the best Cognac finished bourbon he’s ever tasted. However, it’s not widely available and currently only sold in duty free stores. That bottle is estimated to bring $1,500 at auction.
The Speed added sharks to the whiskey mix when Jefferson’s Bourbon founder Trey Zoeller donated a shark-tagging experience aboard the vessel that carries four barrels of Jeffersons Oceans Bourbon as part of its payload.
The winning bidder gets to travel aboard an at-sea shark laboratory in the North Atlantic Ocean and pick his/her own ocean-going bourbon barrel as part of the entire shark-tagging experience.
For three years, barrels of Jefferson’s Bourbon are aged at sea with the idea that constant movement of the liquid in the barrels age the whiskey faster because more of the liquid is in contact with the wood. “When we tapped into the barrels, it completely exceeded my expectations. The liquid was black, almost syrupy. The sugars had caramelized. It was fantastic,” said Zoeller. (Auction estimate: $12,000 – $17,000).
The Speed Takes its Angel’s Share
In addition to bourbon, the Speed Art Museum will serve up another rarity, and it doesn’t have to do with “dusty bottles.” The biggest heavy hitters in the industry will attend the Art of Bourbon Auction.
Bourbon royalty – families with last names like Van Winkle, Brown, Samuels, Henderson and Dedman – will gather under the museum’s Beaux-Arts roof for the event. Guests will mingle with master distillers, members of the old-guard bourbon families, distillery executives and founders of new distilleries that have sprung up on and off the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Prominent collectors from around the country fly in for this event.
“The Speed Art Museum, Kentucky’s largest and oldest art museum, is proud to have launched the premier, national nonprofit bourbon auction,” said Museum Director Stephen Reily. “For one night only, the Speed will rival the nation’s best bourbon bars so that all year long we can share the best art in the world with all of the people of Kentucky.”
Event proceeds support the art institution’s education programs and exhibitions. Bill Menish will serve as auctioneer.
Event organizers have again partnered with Bourbon & Beyond, a Louisville bourbon, food and music festival that coincides with the auction and draws more than 50,000 people. Minnick also serves as Bourbon & Beyond’s curator.
Art of Bourbon tickets, which are $200, include a cocktail hour, bourbon tastings and a seated dinner with a bourbon-inspired menu.
About the Speed Art Museum
The Speed Art Museum is Kentucky’s largest art museum. Its mission is to “invite everyone to celebrate art forever.” An independent and encyclopedic museum located on the campus of the University of Louisville. In 1927, Louisville philanthropist Hattie Bishop Speed founded the Speed Art Museum, with a belief in the power of art to change people’s lives. The Speed Art Museum is free on Sunday through March of 2021, thanks in part to Brown-Forman. After Hours @ the Speed draw large and diverse crowds every third Friday of the month with music, drinks, and of course art. For more information, visit www.speedmuseum.org.
#artofbourbon
The winners in the inaugural competition to assess the business of Scotch whisky have been revealed at a sell-out event held in Edinburgh last night.
The Scottish Whisky Awards welcomed over 400 guests to celebrate and to hear who had been crowned the best in the wide-ranging competition which assesses taste and business performance.
Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year 2019 was presented to The GlenAllachie Distillery in recognition of an outstanding year of business and after winning five medals in the blind tasting competition. The distillery has successfully served a full range of single malt into the market, opened a visitor centre and created a strong distribution network. Their awards haul included two gold medals for their 18 and 12 year old single malts. Craigellachie, Glen Scotia, Highland Park and Loch Lomond Distilleries were also nominated in the category.
Angus-based Arbikie Distilling collected the award for the Newcomer of the Year and were applauded by the judging panel for their field to bottle ethos and innovative approach. They also collected a silver medal for Arbikie Highland Rye in the single grain category.
Other winners on the night included Johnnie Walker White Walker for their Game Of Thrones campaign whilst the Glasgow Distillery Company triumphed with multiple awards for their recently launched 1770 Single Malt.
Professor Alan Wolstenholme, Chair of the Judging panel commented;
“Very many congratulations to the winners in the inaugural Scottish Whisky Awards. Winning a Scottish Whisky Award is a huge opportunity to further the promotion of Scotch whisky at home and abroad. I hope that all the medallists and winners take the opportunity to promote their success and achievements in what was a very tough competition.”
The awards are supported by commercial sponsors including Shawbrook Bank and Bruce Stevenson.
Kevin Boyd, Managing Director at Shawbrook Bank commented;
“Congratulations to all the finalists and winners in the inaugural Scottish Whisky Awards. Shawbrook Bank are proud supporters of our whisky industry and we are delighted to support these awards and their work to promote the business of Scotch and all our wonderful whiskies at home and abroad.”
Graeme Dempster, Account Executive at Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers commented;
“We’d like to congratulate all the finalists and winners at the Scottish Whisky Awards. The quality of talent up for nomination clearly demonstrates the strength of the Scotch Whisky industry today. At Bruce Stevenson, we’re very proud to have a wide-ranging and deep involvement in such an exciting and growing sector.”
The awards also recognised one of the whisky industry’s most accomplished scientific and technical advisers with a special award presented posthumously to Dr Jim Swan. The award for outstanding contribution to Scotch whisky was accepted by Dr Swan’s daughters and was presented in recognition of his forty-year career as a research scientist and trusted adviser to whisky distilleries around the world. The award will be presented annually as The Jim Swan Award for Services to Scotch Whisky to an individual making a significant contribution to the Scotch Whisky industry.
Full results in the competition were unveiled for the first-time last night after being held as a closely guarded secret since the business and taste competitions were carried out in May. In the taste sessions, adjudicated by the international sensory management consultancy, Cara Technology, over 100 whiskies were blind tasted and scored by a 32-strong judging panel from the UK, mainland Europe and Asia.
The awards which will now become an annual fixture and will be hosted in Glasgow next year, were also a fundraiser for two charities; The BEN, the Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, set up by rugby legend Doddie Weir to help improve the lives of those affected by Motor Neurone Disease.
