Happy New Year fellow whisky-lovers!

Well, how was it for you? Did you enjoy some good whiskies? We hope so. We also hope you weren’t effected too badly by the flooding or other terrible weather events here in the UK (or elsewhere). Here at TWL HQ in York we had some hairy moments, but luckily no damage done. First thing to note is that we have a shiny new website. We think it looks good and works well but we always love to get your feedback so please feel free have a look around and let us know what you think! We also recognise that one or two features are either missing or not functioning as they should be, so please bear with us whilst we make the necessary adjustments…

BURNS-A-THON

As many of you will know, we always start our whisky year with the thinest available excuse to taste some good stuff. Happily, Robert Burns selflessly provides us this opportunity every January. We certainly raise a dram or two in his direction with the occasional poem depending on location and presenter. Many of the events are now sold out (we didn’t think it fair to show these) but we have added new dates which are as follows;

BURNS’ TASTINGS/DINNERS DATES & VENUES

SUNDAY   24th JAN.            NEWCASTLE, Blackfriars, Friar St., 7pm

MONDAY  25th JAN.            YORK, Brigantes, Micklegate, 7pm

MONDAY  25th JAN.            LEEDS, The Hedonist Project, 156 Briggate, 7pm

TUESDAY 26th JAN.            SHEFFIELD, The Tap, Sheffield Station, 7pm

THURS.    28th JAN.            BRIGHTON, Grand Central, 29-30 Surrey St., 7pm

THURS.    28th JAN.            EDINBURGH, Clouds and Soil, 4 Picardy Place, 7pm

THURS.    28th JAN.            LONDON, Salt Bar, 82 Seymour Street, W2, 7pm

After a couple of years of (very successful) trips to the Feis Ile we have decided in 2016 to do one trip to Islay outside of festival week and one in Speyside. Both are incredible opportunities to get up close and personal with distilleries and their personnel in the respective areas and to spend some quality time with us! Within both trips you will experience more quality whisky than you can shake a stick at, great food, lovely accommodation, beautiful scenery and amazing craic. That enough superlatives for you? As previously, you can choose from 3 day tours or a full week if you’re willing and able…

Back Stage Speyside Options;

Tour 1:         9th – 12th July

Tour 2:        13th – 16th July

Full Week:   9th – 16th July

Back Stage Islay Options;

Tour 1:         1st – 4th October

Tour 2:         5th – 8th October

Full Week:   1st – 8th October

KAVALAN TASTINGS

With our Kavalan Vs Scotland series back in September 2015, we saw how seriously their whisky is to be taken.

With that in mind we decided now might be a good time to see what else they have… So this series, quite simply, is a tasting of six different whiskies from this most exciting of East-Asian distilleries.

TUESDAY 16th FEB.            SHEFFIELD, The Tap, Sheffield Station, 7pm

FRIDAY     19th FEB.            M’CHESTER, Britons Protection, Gt Bridgewater St., 7pm

FRIDAY     19th FEB.            NEWCASTLE, Blackfriars, Friar St., 7pm

SAT           20th FEB.            YORK, Brigantes, Micklegate, 7pm

WEDS       24th FEB.            LIVERPOOL, Jenny’s Bar, Fenwick St., 7pm

WEDS       24th FEB.            LONDON, Salt Bar, 82 Seymour Street, W2, 7pm

WEDS.      24th FEB.            BRIGHTON, Grand Central, 29-30 Surrey St., 7pm

THURS.     25th FEB.            LEEDS, The Cross Keys, Water Lane, 7pm

EDINBURGH TBC

BLENDING WORKSHOPS

Fancy getting your hands dirty? Think you can do better than Chivas or Johnnie Walker? Let’s be having you then! We are running Blending Workshops throughout the year in most venues we already work with to give you the opportunity to blend your own whisky! After tasting some exceptional blends you will be let loose on your own (with a blending partner) to create and name your own blend. You can then take a miniature home to show off!

NEXT BLENDING DATES

TUES.      8TH MARCH               SHEFFIELD, The Tap, Sheffield Station, 7pm

WEDS      9TH MARCH               LEEDS, The Cross Keys, Water Lane, 7pm

THURS.   10TH MARCH             BRIGHTON, Grand Central, 29-30 Surrey St., 7pm

WEDS      23RD MARCH             LONDON, Salt Bar, 82 Seymour Street, W2, 7pm

WEDS      6TH APRIL                  LIVERPOOL, Jenny’s Bar, Fenwick St., 7pm

THURS.   7TH APRIL                   M’CHESTER, Britons Protection, Gt Bridgewater St., 7pm

THURS.   7TH APRIL                   YORK, Brigantes, Micklegate, 7pm

FRIDAY   8TH APRIL                   NEWCASTLE, Blackfriars, Friar St., 7pm

We do have more to tell you about, but I think this is enough to be going on with for now! Keep an eye out for an email at the end of the week with news on the London Whisky Weekender, Whisky Sessions, Brighton, Bristol, Aberdeen and more festivals…

Sláinte

Eddie, Amanda and Joe The Whisky Lounge Team.

JANUARY TASTINGS AND EVENTS

Burger & Whisky Tasting – 28 Queen Street, Thu 14 Jan   More >

Steak & Chips Tasting – The Vaults, Fri 15 Jan   More >

FREE Poker Night – The Vaults, Mon 18 Jan   More >

Whisky and Italian Delicatessen – 19 Greville Street, Tue 19 Jan   More > 

BURNS TASTINGS & SUPPERS

Aberdeen – The Caledonian Hotel, Thu 21 Jan   More >

Aberdeen – The Caledonian Hotel, Fri 22 Jan   More >

Dunfermline – Garvock House Hotel, Fri 22 Jan   More >

Glasgow Burns Tasting – Radisson Blu Hotel, Fri 22 Jan  More >

Cambridge – Best Western Plus, The Gonville Hotel, Fri 22 Jan   More >

Burns Tasting & Supper – The Vaults, Fri 22 Jan   More >

Burns Tasting & Supper – 19 Greville Street, Mon 25 Jan   More >

Burns Night in the Dining Room – 28 Queen Street, Mon 25 Jan   More >

FREE Live Music Night – The Vaults, Mon 25 Jan   More >

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Burns Night 2016 | Monday 25th January 2016

With the season of festive celebrations over and the long dark nights lingering on, at least here in Scotland, we look to the next event that always guaratess to lift the spirits; Burns Night. And lift the spirits it certainly does as on this night it is customary to raise a dram to toast the illustrious Scottish poet, Robert Burns. We are all very familiar with his works as a Poet, indeed worldwide he is celebrated and revered for the likes of Tam o’ Shanter, A Red Red Rose and as many of us no doubt sang to ring in 2016, Auld Lang Syne.

To date we have 12 Burns Malts® available and at New Year we introduced some new drams to the range with the introduction of the Burns Grain® label. Recognising the growing prominence of single grain scotch whiskey, we have again sourced only the best casks for these new Whisky Barrel Exclusive bottlings – Burns Malt® and Burns Grain®.

Please click here to read more

Just Whisky Auction is live with their latest auction! Bidding ends on the 17^th January at 8PM UK time. As usual there is a fantastic array of beauties to bid on. Make your new year’s resolution to expand your Whisky Collection or grab a bargain to enjoy a Winters Dram!

www.just-whisky.co.uk

Whisky wander: a Spirited Journey Through the Past Century with Alwynne Gwilt

A reminder. please Upload your Burns verse by 11 January to win a bottle

If you haven’t entered already, you’ve still got the weekend to film and upload your Burns Night video. As a little incentive, we’re giving away a bottle of our new Single Cask 15 Year Old for the best video – and a bottle of the Glengoyne 10 Year Old for two runners up. It’s a very special project – Glengoyne family members from around the world reciting our National poet – and we really hope you can be a part of it. The deadline? Monday 11 January.

How to enter

It couldn’t be simpler:

1. Pick your favourite verse from Address to a Haggis

Download PDF of verses >

1. Film yourself reciting it Download PDF of top filming tips >
2. Upload it with WeTransfer by 11 January and include your name and country in the message box Upload your video here >

Terms and conditions apply

How will you toast that “…honest, sonsie face”?

Want to get your hands on the top prize, but not sure if your video will win? As a Family member, you’re in luck. Our new Single Cask 15 Year Old (distillery exclusive) is now available just for you – order your bottle now before general release on 11 January. And if you missed out on a special bottle for Christmas, you can still order a personalised Glengoyne at a discounted standard bottle price until 25 January.

Click HERE to join the Glengoyne Family

Glengoyne Distillery,Dumgoyne, Near Killearn, Glasgow G63 9LB

Tel. +44 (0)1360 550 254

WhiskyFest Pouring Lists are Pouring In!

Have a look at these early whisky lists for WhiskyFest Chicago and WhiskyFest Washington, DC. They’re already good enough to make your head spin, and we’re just getting started. Tickets are still available to Washington, DC, San Francisco, and New York, so order yours today!

Tickets for our Whisky An’ A’ That Festival 2016 are almost SOLD OUT! I would advise anyone  wishing to attend that they purchase their ticket to Nirvana now…. Ben Nevis Distillery Masterclass tickets are now on sale with a small amount also still available. Masterclass Tickets are only for sale in-store.

Regards

RWM Team

A match made in heaven for the nation’s favourite tipple

Whisky and water, scotch on the rocks – now there is a new perfect match for the nation’s favourite tipple as Scotland gears up to celebrate its Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design in 2016.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which takes place in Scotland’s most prolific whisky producing region, will show how the multi-million pound global industry has been built on the exact principles which will be nationally recognised over the next 12 months.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative – led by national tourism agency VisitScotland and a number of partners – which aims to celebrate Scotland’s outstanding contribution to everything from technology to textiles and architecture to craft.

Festival chairman James Campbell says that the union of innovative design and traditional whisky production was a fitting achievement to be celebrated during the themed year.

He adds, “From the bold, innovative moves of illicit distillers who pioneered production to the world famous architectural design of the pagoda which has become a hallmark of Speyside’s distilleries, whisky would not be the multi-billion pound industry it is today without these innovators.

“This amalgamation of heritage and innovation is what makes Speyside whisky so unique and we look forward to sharing our traditions and passion for Scotch malt whisky with visitors to the Festival.

“The five day event offers a rare opportunity for whisky aficionados, and beginners alike to learn more about the malts that have made our region world famous.”

The result of a successful marriage between traditional heritage and cutting edge production, Scotland’s national tipple is the reason why thousands of visitors will flock to the region for the 17^th year of whisky festivities.

Thousands of visitors will flock to the 17^th annual festival, which runs from April 28 – May 2. The five day celebration raises a toast to Speyside’s internationally acclaimed malt whisky through exclusive tastings, tours and appreciations.

The programme is made up of over 400 unique events, including a selection of new attractions, ensuring there’s something for everyone.  For those who appreciate the region in equal measure to the whisky, the Festival has organised a range of entertainment from comedy and crafting to cookery and indulgent dinners, as well as heritage walks and scenic excursions.

Scotland’s first themed year ran in 2009 as the year of Homecoming. The success of the project brought about a range of benefits to the country and boosted tourism overall. Following on from this, the Scottish Government announced a series of themed years to showcase the country as a dynamic and creative nation through a yearlong plethora of programmed events.

“The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is a terrific success story and has attracted many thousands of overseas visitors to Scotland,” explains Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events.

“Although an industry that has a long-established heritage, whisky production in Scotland embraces creativity and innovation to supply global demand.

“This fits perfectly with the theme of Innovation Architecture and Design and visitors can look forward to finding out about this interesting side of our national drink during the festival in 2016.”

Speyside contains more than half of all Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries – over 50 in total – and the vast majority of them will be staging events during the Festival, including many that are not usually open to the public.

Contrasting heritage with contemporary, the programme will, for the first time, feature the oldest operating distillery in the Highlands of Scotland – Strathisla, established in 1789 – and the newest – Dalmunach which was officially opened in June 2015 by Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Information about the 2016 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival can be found on the website http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/ where tickets will be on sale from early February. The Festival is also active on facebook.com/WhiskyFestival, Twitter and Instagram @spirit_speyside.

Picture caption: There’s whisky galore at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival which takes place in Scotland’s most prolific whisky producing region from April 28 until May 2.

Captions:

1. Dalmunach – one of Scotland’s newest distilleries opened in June 2015 by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
2. Strathisla – the oldest operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands, est. 1789
3. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – Whisky Galore

Notes to editors

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2014 to 2020. The Scottish Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme.

Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design

2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design will run from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.

Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed fashion, textiles and design sector.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, supported by partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate

About EventScotland:

EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit http://www.eventscotland.org/. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.

EventScotland is a team within the VisitScotland Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see http://www.visitscotland.org/ or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see http://www.visitscotland.com/.

Sale extended – Sunday 10th January! 

To receive your discount, enter code AW10-2015 at checkout.

Slàinte Mhaith

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