Revealing the essence of flavour with our Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky

Our Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky launched last week. This Diploma focuses solely on your olfactory system, how and where flavour develops during the production process and of course the importance of oak and the development of flavour character during maturation. Candidates start the day with interactive activities, all designed to stimulate your olfactory cells and start you on your sensory enlightenment.

2019 courses are on 3rd June, 8th July, 20th Sept and 6th Nov

Click here to book the Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky

Welcoming new lecturer, John Ramsay

John is the senior lecturer for the Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky.  He retired in 2009 after 43 years in the industry, latterly as Master Blender at Edrington where he was responsible for brands including The Macallan, Highland Park, The Glenrothes, Cutty Sark and Famous Grouse.  John’s unparalleled knowledge combined with his industry insight makes this a unique opportunity to learn from one of the Masters of Scotch.

The Academy takes the international stage at the Groningen Whisky Festival

We spent a wonderful 3 days in the beautiful Dutch town of Groningen, chatting with enthusiasts whilst challenging them to take our aroma recognition test! We can’t wait to get back on the road and spread the joy that our exclusive whisky education courses and activities create.

Edinburgh Whisky Academy

23b Windsor Street

Edinburgh, EH7 5LA

United Kingdom

Saturday, April 20th 11AM-4PM: 

Scotch & World Whiskies: Islay, Japan, and Belgium

Try Gouden Carolus, Matsui Single Malt, and our very own store- exclusive Kilchoman Machir Bay at this in-store tasting! Keeper-of-the-quaich and master of all things whisky, Sam Filmus will present this tasting from 11AM-4PM.

More Details & RSVP

‘Ten Wee Drams’

On April 11th, Raasay Distillery will be hosting a live performance of ‘Ten Wee Drams’, a new set of works for solo bass and contrabass clarinet commissioned and performed by celebrated musician Sarah Watts. 

Sarah Watts has been hosting annual clarinet and bass clarinet courses on the Isle of Raasay for ten years. To celebrate this milestone anniversary she commissioned the composition of ten pieces which will be premiered at the Raasay Distillery this April.

Each Wee Dram takes inspiration from past and current culture, heritage, folklore and landscape of Raasay. Nine of the Wee Drams are by Scottish based composers Piers Hellawell, Alasdair Nicolson, Stuart MacRae, Iain Matheson, Oliver Searle, Jane Stanley, Pete Stollery, William Sweeney, and Sarah Watts. The tenth is by emerging composer Adam Lee – winner of the Ten Wee drams student competition.

The concert will take place in the distillery Gathering Room from 2.30pm (doors open at 2pm) with stunning views over to Skye, the afternoon will feature Sarah performing the Ten Wee Drams in a set lasting approximately 45 minutes. This event is free to attend and there will be a licensed bar, tea, coffee, and cakes.

Darren Clarke

Putting extra work in on the range

Loch Lomond Whiskies adds new golfing special editions 

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two new special edition single malts to celebrate the award-winning independent distiller’s second year as The Spirit of The Open.

Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2019, created in conjunction with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ golf ambassador Colin Montgomerie and Loch Lomond The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush 19 Year Old, crafted with former Open Champion Darren Clarke, also a Loch Lomond Whiskies golf brand ambassador, are designed to showcase the worlds of whisky and golf; two of Scotland’s most iconic exports.

The Open Special Edition 2019 encompasses four different spirit styles to deliver the distillery’s distinct fruity character underpinned with a gentle hint of peat and smoke. A complex single malt, it offers a vibrant palette of peach and pear, enhanced using specially selected spirit distilled from wine yeast fermentations. Notes of creamy vanilla oak and maple syrup add an air of sweetness before subtle peat smoke emerges, providing a balanced finish.

Crafted by Loch Lomond Whiskies’ master blender Michael Henry in partnership with brand ambassador Colin Montgomerie, who has won a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2019 is presented in a distinctive green golf-inspired box baring  Monty’s signature and is a perfect addition to any whisky collection. A limited edition release, Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2019  is priced at £37, and will be available to purchase worldwide from April 2019.

In honour of the 148^th Open Championship, which is returning to Northern Ireland after a near 70-year absence, Loch Lomond The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush has also been created. The 19-year-old single malt was crafted in partnership with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ ambassador Darren Clarke, who has won 21 tournaments internationally including the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George’s in England.

To create the edition, Loch Lomond Whiskies Master Blender Michael Henry worked with Clarke to carefully select casks from the distillery’s onsite cooperage that capture the fruit character achieved by Loch Lomond’s innovative straight neck stils.  Matured in American Oak, the liquid was then finished in claret casks as an homage to the famous Open trophy, and as a result has developed a stunning rose colour. It has also help to deliver a beautifully balanced single malt, rich in honey sweetness with tropical fruits coming to the fore.

The release’s rich green packaging, which is signed by Clarke, depicts a map of Royal Portrush Golf Club course in the centre, creating what it is set to be a highly prized collector’s item. Priced at £150, Loch Lomond The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush has an ABV of 50.3% and is available globally from April 2019.

Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, said: “Monty and Darren Clarke are two of the most respected players in European golf, and it’s fantastic to be working with them to raise awareness of Loch Lomond Whiskies around the world. We’re confident our new special releases developed in conjunction with the pair will be a great success among both golf and whisky fans.”

Commenting on the new releases, Clarke said: “The release of my own signature edition single malt marks an incredibly proud summer for me. To be able to tee up alongside the world’s best golfers at a course that I call home is incredibly special. To do it with The Official Spirit of The Open by my side is the stuff that dreams are made of.”

Colin Montgomerie

Fellow legend of the fairways Montgomerie added: “I had the pleasure of meeting fans in the Loch Lomond Whiskies bar at The Open last year, so I know first hand about the passion for whisky that the golfing public has.

“I know the new special editions will prove a huge hit again this year at Royal Portrush and I can’t wait to share a wee dram in July!”

Loch Lomond Whiskies is set to release an additional premium expression this summer which celebrates Colin Montgomerie’s achievements through his 30 year career. One of golf’s most successful players, Montgomerie has claimed more than 50 tournament victories and was the European No. 1 for an unprecedented seven years.

Loch Lomond Whiskies, based in Alexandria, near Loch Lomond, agreed a five-year partnership with The R&A in February 2018.  Known as “The One”, The Open is the most international of the major championships with qualifying events across five continents. The Championship is also broadcast to 600 million households in almost 200 countries around the world.

Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said: “We are proud to launch two limited editons to mark this year’s Open, which returns to Royal Portrush for the first time in almost 70 years. Each expression harnesses the spirit of our Loch Lomond distillery, conveying a fruity character punctuated with deep, complex flavours and delivering a rich mouth feel.

“Personally, these releases mean a great deal to me. Hailing originally from Northern Ireland, it is highly rewarding to be showcasing Scotch whisky to my home country and to have the opportunity to celebrate Royal Portrush.”

The Loch Lomond special editions will launch for sale in April. For further information visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

The Open Collection

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day
• The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12 Year Old which has been awarded a Gold Medal at the International Spirits Challenge 2017. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18 Year Old; Loch Lomond 50 Year Old: the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Reserve
• Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the most prestigious and coveted global competitions:

• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
• GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond Original Single Malt Scotch

• Loch Lomond Whiskies signed a five-year partnership with The R&A to become The Spirit of The Open in February 2019. The period includes the playing of the landmark 150^th Open in 2021 at St Andrews, the home of golf.
• For further information visit Loch Lomond Whiskies on Twitter: @LochLomondMalts, Instagram: @lochlomondmalts Facebook: Loch Lomond Whiskies and at www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

Friday, April 12th 5-7PM: 

AD Laws Whiskey 

Laws Whiskey House is a fiercely independent Colorado distillery committed to producing the highest quality whiskey using local ingredients. With a ‘no compromise, no shortcuts’ philosophy, each whiskey is 100% produced from grain to glass at their distillery. The results are flavorful, award-winning bottlings, (Their ‘Bottled in Bond Secale Straight Rye received ‘World’s Best Rye’ distinction,) showcasing the character of the grain and distilling processes unique to American whiskey.

More Details & RSVP

Springbank Website: Tours

We are delighted to announce our new Tour Schedule running from today, 1st April 2019, until 2nd November 2019.

As part of the new timetable, we have made some upgrades;

• More Tours Available
• You can now do individual tours of Glengyle, home of Kilkerran Single Malt
• The Barley to Bottle Tour
• As Society members, you get free tours of Springbank and Glengyle until April 2020.

For full details of all the tour options we have available: click here

See you in Campbeltown!

Slainte,

The Springbank Team

The 2019 whisky season has officially started: Whisky Live London kicks off today and last night saw the announcement of the winners of the World Whiskies Awards 2019. While we’ve known who won medals for a couple of months, last night’s dinner and ceremony was all about calling out the best of the best – the whiskies that were top in their countries and categories.

The World’s Best Single Malt

The top of the World Whiskies Awards tree is World’s Best Single Malt. Unlike some whisky awards, the WWAs have been embracing the first W of their name since almost the very beginning, with the World’s Best Single Malt bouncing around the world, although Scotland and Japan have very much been the most popular countries. However, this year (if my memory serves) is the first where Ireland has picked up the award – congratulations go to Teeling 24 Year Old Vintage Reserve.

The Irish single malts of the first half of the 1990s have been wowing for the last couple of years. At the time, only Bushmills and Cooley were making single malt, and the general opinion is that most of the whiskey that has been appearing these days is from Bushmills, and the tasting notes for the Teeling 24 Year Old suggest it’s from the same pedigree. A worthy winner.

More thoughts

While watching the awards being announced, a few more stood out as being interesting.

World’s Best Rye – Stork Club Straight Rye: a German rye? A relatively recent international release, this continues the WWA’s tradition of overturning traditional country stereotypes – Zuidam’s Millstone Dutch rye has picked up the award before, and last year an American whiskey was named Best Pot Still, despite few people realising that anyone else but Ireland was producing Pot Still whiskey.

Best Scotch Lowlands – Ailsa Bay Sweet Smoke 1.2: Ailsa Bay may be a big distillery that produces huge amounts of malt for William Grant’s blended whiskies, but this award, and the rest of the praise heaped on both Sweet Smoke and the inaugural release, show that being big doesn’t stop you making great whisky.

Best Egyptian – Devlin: another country to add to my list of whisky producers. Unsurprisingly, I’d not heard of Devlin’s whisky before the first round of the awards were announced, but it is now firmly on my to-find list.

Best English – Cotswolds Founder’s Choice: a year and a bit after its first release and Cotswolds has already risen to the top of the increasingly big English whisky heap. The Founder’s Reserve is an interesting whisky, showcasing the distillery’s STR casks – shaved, toasted and recharred wine casks, a type much-loved by the late Jim Swan, distilling consultant extraordinaire and creator of the Cotswolds style – a punchy type of cask that can overpower whisky when not managed correctly. As the award shows, despite the distillery’s relative youth, Cotswolds know how to make good whisky.

Read my interview with Dan Szor, founder of Cotswolds Distillery >

The Category Winners

World’s Best Single Malt – Teeling Whiskey 24 Year Old Vintage Reserve
World’s Best Blended – Hibiki 21 Year Old
World’s Best Blended Whisky Limited Edition – Ichiro’s Malt and Grain 2019
World’s Best Blended Malt – Nikka Taketsuru 25 Year Old
World’s Best Single Cask – Sullivans Cove French Oak TD0217
World’s Best New Make – Stauning Curious
World’s Best Grain – Fuji-Gotemba 25 Year Old Single Grain Small Batch
World’s Best Rye – Stork Club Straight Rye Whisky
World’s Best Corn – Ironroot Republic Hubris
World’s Best Bourbon – Four Roses 130th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch 2018
World’s Best Tennessee – Uncle Nearest 1856
World’s Best Canadian – JP Wiser’s 35 Year Old
World’s Best Pot Still – Powers 14 Year Old Temple Bar Single Cask
World’s Best Wheat – Bainbridge Battle Point Two Islands Hokkaido Mizunara Cask

The Scotch Whisky Winners

Best Scotch Campbeltown – Glen Scotia 25 Year Old
Best Scotch Highlands – Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1989
Best Scotch Islands – Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask Batch 4
Best Scotch Islay – Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old
Best Scotch Lowlands – Ailsa Bay Sweet Smoke 1.2
Best Scotch Speyside – Benriach 35 Year Old

The Rest of the World Winners

Best American – Sons of Liberty Battle Cry Sauternes Finish
Best Australian – Hellyers Road Slightly Peated 10 Year Old
Best Belgian – Belgian Owl Identité
Best Canadian – Two Brewers Release 9
Best Danish – Stauning Røg Peat and Heather
Best Dutch – Millstone 12 Year Old Sherry Cask
Best Egyptian – Devlin: Egypt’s First Single Malt
Best English – Cotswolds Distillery Founder’s Choice
Best German – Glen Els Ember
Best Indian – Paul John Classic Select Cask
Best Japanese – Hakushu 25 Year Old
Best New Zealand – Thomson Manuka Smoke
Best South African – Three Ships 10 Year Old
Best Swedish – High Coast The Festival 2018

Find all of the medal winners on our World Whiskies Awards 2019 page.

Saturday, April 13th 12-3PM: 

 Sagamore Rye

Taste Sagamore Spirit Rye at our expert presented whiskey tasting! Both Rye fans and newcomers to the world of American whiskey will find something to enjoy among Sagamore Spirit’s expressions. Proudly considered ‘Bourbon’s Older Brother,” Sagamore’s whiskies have been highly reviewed since release, earning Double Gold at the San Francisco Spirits Competition among many accolades.

Click Here to RSVP

Port Askaig 10th Anniversary Tasting 

WITH OLIVER CHILTON

Tuesday 23 April 2019

7pm-8.30pm
£50 Spaces limited. Tickets on sale now.

Book now 

The village of Port Askaig is a lasting memory for anyone who has been lucky enough to visit Islay and experience its magic. Though no whisky is made there, it is the gateway to the island and its many distilleries. Since 2009, Elixir Distillers has been sourcing casks of single malt whisky from distilleries across Islay and, when the time is right, bottling them as expressions in the Port Askaig range.

Always non chill filtered. Never artificially coloured. 10 years on, Port Askaig’s releases are loved by whisky drinkers around the world for their honesty and consistently excellent flavour. We invite you to explore Port Askaig’s whisky and sample the latest limited-edition releases, bottled specially for the 10th anniversary of the range. Joining us at this special birthday tasting is Oliver Chilton – the man behind Elixir Distillers’ expert cask selection.

THE LINE-UP 

Port Askaig 8 Year Old
Port Askaig 100 Proof
Port Askaig 10 Year Old (10th anniversary limited edition)
Port Askaig 28 Year Old (New limited-edition release)
Port Askaig 34 Year Old Single Cask
Port Askaig 45 Year Old

OLIVER CHILTON

Oliver Chilton has worked in the whisky industry for most of his adult life. He started in whisky shops, and moved on to being an ambassador and running whisky shows, but he soon fell into selecting, buying and bottling whiskies. He now channels his love of Islay and its spirit into finding great whiskies for Port Askaig and the Elements of Islay.

VENUE

BROWNS COVENT GARDEN

82-84 ST MARTIN’S LN
LONDON
WC2N 4AG

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival offers visitors a unique opportunity to get hands-on in whisky-making process

Visitors attending the world’s leading Scotch whisky festival are being given a unique and exclusive opportunity to get hands-on with the distilling process. Speyside Distillery is offering just 10 people the chance to work alongside its distillers to produce spirit when it throws open its doors during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Only two people each day will be invited to join the team at the artisan distillery near Kingussie – home to SPEY from Speyside Distillery and Beinn Dubh single malts – to get an in-depth understanding of its traditional hand-crafted distillation processes.

It will be the first time that the boutique distillery, which has been running since 1990, has allowed anyone other than its team of expert distillers to take a hands-on a role in production.

Speyside Distillery managing director Patricia Dillon said that the team wanted to create a special and unique experience that visitors to the Festival, taking place from May 1 to 6, could enjoy.

The Festival will play host to over 600 events in six days, making it the biggest on record. Thousands of visitors will travel from as far afield as Australia and South America to the annual event, which is now in its 20th year.

Patricia said: “Speyside Distillery is not usually open to the public, but the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is one of the very few times during the year when we open our doors and share our secrets with the outside world.

“What we’ve come to understand from hosting Festival visitors over the years is that, regardless of whether the person is a whisky connoisseur or tasting whisky for the first time, they are all absolutely fascinated by how we make it.

“As an independent artisan producer with a small site in such a beautiful location, we thought we would go one step further than just showing visitors the process and instead invite them to cover part of a shift with our distillers, who have a wealth of knowledge to share.

“Very few – if any – people who visit a distillery will ever be able to say that they helped to produce the spirit that is then matured in warehouses and later released for whisky lovers the world over to buy. This is a truly unique experience.”

Tickets for the hands-on production experience are £140 and include a nosing and tasting of specially-selected award-winning SPEY single malts, including its limited-edition release for this year’s Festival.

With such a limited number of tickets on offer, demand is expected to be high. However, there are other opportunities during the Festival for visitors to get closer to the production experience.

Sandy Hyslop, director of blending at Chivas Brothers, will be staging interactive and competitive sessions at Strathisla Distillery in Keith where participants can pit themselves against the elimination tests that any aspiring whisky blender must pass. There will be a prize for the best blender – a bottle of malt signed by the company’s blending team – at the end of session, which will also offer the opportunity to nose and taste a wide range of interesting samples.

Dr Andrew Forrester, head of whisky science at Murray McDavid, will host an art of blending session at Parkmore Distillery. Using cask samples from the firm’s Coleburn Distillery warehouse, apprentice blenders will have the chance to hone their skills and create their own personalised 30cl bottle of Scotch.

In one of the more unusual events, there will be an opportunity to go behind the scenes at Chivas Brothers’ Technical Centre, located next to Glen Keith Distillery, where a constant watch is kept on production to ensure consistent quality.

During the tour, visitors will gain an understanding of the rigorous testing of raw materials and how spirit produced in Chivas Brothers’ distilleries is then extensively evaluated in order to detect counterfeit products.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place in locations across the region – the spiritual home of Scotland’s whisky industry – from May 1 to 6. Over 600 events are on offer during the six days, including exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, whisky nosing and tasting with industry experts, food pairing as well as outdoor and heritage activities.

The programme is designed to appeal to people of all levels of interest in whisky, from the connoisseurs who have a deep-rooted passion for Scotland’s national drink to those who have never tasted it before. While many events are ticketed, some are free – and it is possible to enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of the Festival without touching a drop.

Tickets for individual events are on sale now at www.spiritofspeyside.com with regular updates on social media: facebook.com/whiskyfestival and  Twitter and Instagram @spirit_speyside

Picture captions:

Speyside Distillery is offering Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival visitors the unique opportunity to get hands-on with production – one of many events during which whisky lovers will be able to get practical production experience.

Sandy Hyslop, master blender at Chivas Brothers.