Friday, August 10th, 5-7 PM: 

The Macallan & Highland Park 

Treat yourself to some of the most popular whisky names in the world! We’ll be pouring a variety of new releases and highly-rated favorites, with distillery representatives and our own in-store whisky experts present throughout. Since this is one of our most popular tastings, we encourage people to arrive on time.

Pour list to be revealed as the event approaches –

RSVP to be notified of new details.

More Details & RSVP

Friday, August 17, 5-7PM: 

Bourbon Tasting: Wyoming Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey are independent, family-owned whiskey makers with a world-class distillery in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming. The Big Horn Basin has everything needed to make great bourbon, and all ingredients are sourced locally – from non-GMO grain to water from the Madison limestone aquifier. The consistency and uniqueness of these whiskey elements make for a better bourbon that stands apart from all others, and a true contender for best Whisky of the West.

More Details & RSVP

Mackmyra have been exhibiting at our festivals very successfully over the last couple of years. In fact they have been quite dominant when it comes to positive feedback from you, our loyal customers!

We therefore thought it was high time that we had them come and do a guest turn at our lovely small-scale tastings.

For one evening only, you will sit down to try some amazing whiskies from Mackmyra’s small and single casks. This is not a tasting of their ‘core’ range (as good as it is), so expect to enjoy whiskies you have never tasted – and may never taste again. There will also be opportunities to buy bottles and even…casks!

You will be joined by like-minded folk who also enjoy their whisky in what will be an informal but very tasty and informative tasting…”

September 13

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Mackmyra Single Casks – London

£20pp

Marlborough Arms

36 Torrington Pl, Bloomsbury

London, WC1E7LY

https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/mackmyra-single-casks-london-2018/

September 14

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Mackmyra Single Casks – Newcastle

£20pp

Blackfriars

Friar St

Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4XN

https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/mackmyra-single-casks-newcastle-2018/

September 14

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Mackmyra Single Casks – York

£20pp

Brigantes

114 Micklegate

York, YO1 6JX

https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/mackmyra-single-casks-york-2018/

September 14

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Mackmyra Single Casks – Manchester

£20pp

The Britons Protection

50 Great Bridgewater St.

Manchester, M1 5LE

https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/mackmyra-single-casks-manchester-2018/

September 25

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Mackmyra Single Casks – Leeds

£20pp

Northern Monk Brew Co

Marshall St, Saw Mill St

Leeds, LS11 9YJ

https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/mackmyra-single-casks-leeds-2018/

September 25

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Mackmyra Single Casks – Sheffield

£20pp

The Sheffield Tap

Platform 1B, Sheffield Station

Sheffield, S1 2BP

https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/mackmyra-single-casks-sheffield-2018/

September 26

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Mackmyra Single Casks – Liverpool

£20pp

Fly in The Loaf

13 Hardman Street

Liverpool, L19AS

https://thewhiskylounge.com/event/mackmyra-single-casks-liverpool-2018-2/

NH Liquor Commission Raffling Rare Pappy Van Winkle Bourbons to Raise $100,000 for Best Buddies NH 

Prize package includes Pappy Van Winkle’s 10-year, 12-year, 15-year, 20-year, 23-year and 25-year bourbons; only 710 bottles of Pappy 25-year bourbon exist worldwide 

Joseph W. Mollica, Chairman | Michael R. Milligan, Deputy Commissioner

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) is giving bourbon lovers the chance to acquire the world’s most sought-after bourbon while contributing to a worthy cause. NHLC launched the third annual Pappy Van Winkle Raffle & Exclusive Tasting Experience today, providing bourbon enthusiasts the opportunity to obtain the entire collection of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, including the oldest bourbon Pappy Van Winkle has ever released: the Old Rip Van Winkle 25yr Handmade Bourbon. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold for $100 each with proceeds benefiting Best Buddies New Hampshire. Tickets are available until October 2 at www.distillersshowcase.com/pappy.

“We are proud to offer our customers from across the country this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain the most sought-after bourbons on the planet,” said NHLC Chairman Joseph Mollica. “This initiative is indicative of both our longstanding commitment to offering customers limited, rare and premium products, and our dedication to supporting the New Hampshire nonprofit community. We are honored to partner with Best Buddies New Hampshire, a remarkable organization making a significant impact on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

In its inaugural effort in 2016, NHLC raffled a single bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The raffle generated more than $10,000 for the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association. Building on the success and momentum of the 2016 raffle, NHLC made the decision to expand the Pappy Van Winkle Raffle & Exclusive Tasting Experience to feature the entire line of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons in 2017. Last year, the raffle generated more than $42,000 for Best Buddies New Hampshire.

With high demand for Pappy Van Winkle and overwhelming support for Best Buddies New Hampshire, NHLC decided to increase the amount of tickets available to 1,000 and to enhance the prize package by including a bottle of the Old Rip Van Winkle’s 25-year Handmade Bourbon.

Introduced in April 2017 with just 710 bottles available worldwide, the Old Rip Van Winkle 25yr Handmade Bourbon has a suggested retail price of $1,800 per bottle, but some retailers list it at $15,000 per bottle.

In addition to the full collection of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, one winner will receive VIP access to one of the largest spirits tasting events in the country, the Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits, which features more than 400 premium and ultra-premium spirits for sampling and draws more than 1,000 guests. The Distiller’s Showcase takes place on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at the Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, NH. The prize package also includes access to an intimate Pappy Van Winkle tasting and fine dining experience in Manchester.

The full prize package for the Pappy Van Winkle Raffle & Exclusive Tasting Experience includes:

• One bottle each of:
  • Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr Handmade Bourbon
  • Van Winkle Special Reserve 12yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Old Rip Van Winkle 25yr Handmade Bourbon
• Two VIP tickets to Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits
• Two seats at a Pappy Van Winkle Tasting Dinner on Tuesday, October 30
• The five-course dinner will include samples from Pappy Van Winkle’s line of bourbons
• Transportation for two to New Hampshire
• Hotel accommodations for three nights in Manchester

Best Buddies New Hampshire helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience friendship and build a life-giving social network outside of their families and service providers. The organization’s programming allows students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to take part in age-appropriate social activities through one-to-one friendships.

“Best Buddies New Hampshire is honored to have been chosen as the nonprofit partner for the Pappy Van Winkle Raffle & Exclusive Tasting Experience,” said Best Buddies New Hampshire Director Sarra Dennehy. “This is a terrific opportunity for our organization and we plan to use this funding to expand and enhance our School Friendship Programs in elementary, middle, high school and colleges. We are also planning to use this critical funding to establish our Citizens program, which offers the thousands of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New Hampshire the opportunity for one-to-one friendships. We are extremely grateful to NHLC for continuing to support our mission of inclusion and friendship for everyone.”

In addition to Best Buddies New Hampshire, NHLC has worked with suppliers, brokers and customers over the past five years to raise more than $1.47 million for nonprofit organizations making an impact in New Hampshire and beyond, including Community Foundation Sonoma County, the Napa Valley Community Foundation, New Hampshire Food Bank, Currier Museum of Art, Easterseals New Hampshire, Homes for Our Troops, Operation Care for Troops, Toys for Tots, Granite United Way, Concord Hospital, Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, Crotched Mountain Foundation, Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association.

Photo caption: The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) is giving bourbon lovers the chance to acquire the world’s most sought-after bourbon while contributing to a worthy cause. NHLC launched the third annual Pappy Van Winkle Raffle & Exclusive Tasting Experience today, providing the opportunity to obtain the entire collection of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, including the Old Rip Van Winkle 25yr Handmade Bourbon. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold for $100 each with proceeds benefiting Best Buddies New Hampshire. Tickets are available until October 2 at www.distillersshowcase.com/pappy. Pictured are the 10, 12, 15, 20 and 23-year bourbons.

Saturday, July 28th, 2:30-5:30PM: 

Welsh Whiskey: Penderyn

Treat yourself to a variety of new, rare, and award-winning whiskies by unique Welsh distillery Penderyn at our whisky expert presented in-store tasting! Penderyn is the first whisky distillery in Wales in over a century. Dreamed up by a group of friends in the late 1990’s, they aimed to continue Wales’ distilling history with a whisky as pure and precious as Welsh gold, represented today by Penderyn’s ‘gold seam’. Today, Penderyn’s malted barley spirit has received worldwide recognition as a fantastic whisky, with numerous awards for their expertly distilled bottlings.

More Details & RSVP

The Tweeddale | Whisky Tasting Evening | Coldstream

The Tweeddale whisky was established in Coldstream on Duke Street in 1820. On Saturday 4th August, as a festive precursor to the annual celebrations of Civic Week The Tweeddale will be returning to its spiritual home in Coldstream for a  tasting evening and talk from The Tweeddale Master Blender, Alasdair Day.

Alasdair Day, is the great grandson of Richard Day who ran a small licensed grocer’s shop in Coldstream where he blended and bottled whisky to sell to the local community. He meticulously recorded his secret ‘recipes’ in a cellar book which he left to his family. This fateful book was passed down through the family to Alasdair and in 2009 he was inspired to recreate The Tweeddale using Richard Day’s original recipes.

At this fascinating event, taking place in Coldstream Community Centre, Alasdair will be talking about how the business has evolved in recent years and will be providing tastings of the three different expressions of The Tweeddale that he has created to date. The evening will be the perfect opportunity for whisky and Coldstream History lovers to uncover the fascinating heritage of this spirit, while sipping a dram or two.

This is a free event and will run from 7pm – 9pm. There will also be whisky available to purchase.

Friday, July 27th, 5-7 PM: 

Dalmore Presented by Kimberly Drake 

Join us for a tasting of Dalmore Single Malt Scotch, presented by ambassador and whisky expert Kimberly Drake! Established in 1839, the centuries-old Highland distillery has maintained its place in single malt history by creating award-winning and highly demanded whiskies and bringing new innovations to the world of scotch distilling to this day.

More Details & RSVP

Isle of Raasay Distillery undertakes a second year of barley variety trials on Raasay

Following a successful barley variety trial on the island in 2017, Isle of Raasay Distillery will undertake a second trial to determine which varieties grow and ripen on the island. Raasay Distillery has the ultimate long-term objective of growing enough barley on Raasay to produce at least one batch per year of single malt made with 100% Raasay barley. On Thursday 2nd August 2018, Raasay Distillery will welcome everyone interested in learning more about the barley trial for presentations exploring progress of the barley trial to date and plans for the future.

The first barley trial on Raasay commenced in April 2017 and was carried out in conjunction with Interface, Peter Martin, Director of Agronomy Institute at University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), and local farmer Andrew Gillies. Five varieties of barley were trialled in Gillies Mill Park Field: Concerto (the commercial variety) Tartan, Bere, Iskria and Kannas. The latter three ripened successfully; the barley was harvested on 26th August 2017 and then transported to the James Hutton Institute in Dundee to be dried. It was then malted by Hugh Alexander from Curio Group in June and July 2018 and a small amount of Raasay peat was used during this malting process. The distillery plans to use all three varieties of malted barley to make a special batch of Raasay Whisky and this mash will be taking place during the open day on 2nd August.

The 2017 trial revealed that current commercial barley varieties grow but do not ripen on Raasay. This is due to a much shorter growing season owing to the high rainfall level in March, April and September on the island. For the 2018 trial, Raasay Distillery will work again with Martin and Gillies to cultivate four varieties in Mill Park Field: Iskria, an early two row Icelandic variety; Golden Promise, a two row U.K. malting variety first released in the 1960s; Anneli an early two row Swedish Variety which will replace Kannas as it is no longer available; and Brage, a medium-early six row Norwegian variety. Raasay Distillery hopes to identify one suitable variety to grow on Raasay in the future and to improve the yield in 2018.

At the open day on 2nd August, Martin will introduce the barley varieties and will discuss the challenges that have been encountered while growing commercial varieties on Raasay. Martin’s expertise has been invaluable to the project; he has worked with other distillers, principally Bruichladdich and Highland Park, to produce whisky using non-commercial barley varieties. He has also worked with the Northern Periphery Programme (in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greenland, Faroe Isles and Scotland) and this experience has illuminated the varieties should grow successfully on the island. Co-founder of Raasay Distillery, Alasdair Day, will also discuss the background and future of the project and Hugh Alexander from Curio Group will be explain the processes involved in micro-malting the Raasay Barley. The distillery will also offer free distillery tours during the open day and there will also be lunch available to purchase in the Gathering Room.

This distillery build project has relied upon the island resources: the stone used to build the supporting wall at the rear of the distillery is from the site itself; wood from the site has be used for furnishings within the accommodation, and an impressive feature wall in the Gathering Room comprises stones, bottles and treasures, found washed up on the shoreline. Raasay Distillery has relied upon the support of the local community and for this barley trial the advice and support of Andrew Gillies has been invaluable.

With a Celtic well on site providing access to high mineral content water, as well as a good supply of peat in the north of the island, Raasay Distillery is keen to create at least one batch of Raasay Scotch per year that uses all-local ingredients. While acknowledging that this whisky will be a small percentage of total production, the distillery is keen to challenge the limitations of production in such an unusual location.

NOTES

RAASAY DISTILLERY

Raasay Distillery began producing whisky in September 2017. It is owned by independent Scottish whisky company R&B Distillers.

In February 2016, the Highland Council granted permission for the construction of a distillery on Raasay. Subsequent grants were secured from the Food Processing Marketing and Co-Operation Grants Scheme, as well as the Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the development of a visitor centre, which is projected to bring 12,000 visitors to Raasay in its first year.

Raasay Single Malt will be ready to drink from 2020 and will encapsulate the rugged elegance of the island terroir. The high mineral content of the island’s water, which filters across volcanic rock from Dun Caan, will be integral to the flavour of the whisky. A long fermentation time helps to retain the minerality, resulting in a fruity whisky that will become a characteristic of Raasay single malt. Head Distiller Iain Robertson has trained a team of four distillery operators to enable the distillery to run on two shifts per day, resulting in an increase capacity of 188,000 LPA from July 2018.

Isle of Raasay Distillery is will produce Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

• Capacity: 188,000 LPA

• Fermentation Time: 115 hours

• Spirit Still: 3,600 L • Wash Still: 5,000 L

• Washback Size: 5,000 L

• Maturation: All maturation on site Produced using local water supply at every stage of distillation and reduction

Barley Open Day at Raasay Distillery Thursday 2nd August 2018 12pm-1pm: Presentations in the Gathering Room: 1pm-1.30pm: Barley Field Visit 1.30pm-2pm: Lunch & Refreshments available to purchase in the Gathering Room 2pm-3pm: Raasay Barley Mashing

Raasay Distillery, Borodale House, Isle of Raasay, Kyle IV40 8PB

T: 01478 470178 raasaydistillery.com @raasaydistillery 

WOMEN’S WHISKY NIGHT AUGUST

TUESDAY 7TH AUGUST 2018

Whiskies of Asia!

Sponsored by Paul John, we will be sampling some of the finest drams from India, Japan, and Taiwan.

Led by women, run by women, for women.

Join us to celebrate & rejoice in all the fantastic achievements of women in the industry.

Our last four events were a massive success, let’s keep it going.

Tickets £20 or £25 on the door.

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Our mailing address is:

Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, EnglandW1D 4NX
United Kingdom