Time is running out to sign up for the Laphroaig Masterclass

This Saturday, October 3rd at 7pm

at The Olde Mouldy

upstairs from the Study Restaurant at 73 Ames Street

enter either Study or Ames Street Deli and staff will be delighted to direct you to us.

Back in the late 1950s, Laphroaig was presided over by Islay’s (and probably all of Scotland’s) first ever distillery manager, Bessie Williamson. She had just taken the reins after the death of its previous owner, Ian Hunter, having served as his secretary and inherited the distillery since he had no living decedents.  She was a true legend in the industry and ably stewarded the no-less-legendary distillery until her retirement in ’72. Back then, Laphroaig had two small stills and did all their own malting by hand, spreading it out on the floor of a warehouse to germinate and smoking it onsite in their kiln. The stills were replaced I think around ’61. This year’s Laphroaig Cairdeas pays homage to this incredible woman and the magical spirit she produced by using only barley malted at Laphroaig the old-fashioned way and distilled twice in their smaller “spirit” stills as opposed to the first run passing throught heir larger “wash” still.

On Saturday, we’ll provide the only opportunity in the world that we’ve yet heard of to directly compare this incredibly special Cairdeas bottling with the spirit it is attempting to replicate, a spirit distilled and bottled under Bessie’s careful eye, a 10 year old bottled in 1969. Both of these whiskies are fabulous examples of what Laphroaig is capable of, showing a side of the heavily peated single-malt that is rather different from today’s normal distillate.

To really fully grok the significance of that, we’ll taste these two special whiskies in the company of the distillery’s modern 10 year old and their limited-edition 15 year old. Then, since we’re already opening one $6,000 bottle, we may as well go all out and we’ll taste the long departed 30- and 40-year old expressions both bottled over a decade ago. These bottles are both truly stunning and round out a line-up of whiskies never to be repeated and represent the absolute best collection of Laphroaig’s we could ever imagine. This is truly an experience not to be missed.

Additionally, every ticket includes a full bottle of the Laphroaig Cairdeas. If you’re a Laphroaig fan, you’re going to love this special limited-edition. It’s the most exciting Laphroaig release for many years. It’s got a creaminess and purity of grain character with a real depth of smoke that’s just precious. Too few people will ever get a chance to try these whiskies, don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Pours will be 1/2 ounce per whisky, bottles may be picked up only from Federal Wines at 29 State Street in Boston any time after payment, bottles will not be available for pick-up on the night of the event. When the masterclass is over, all are welcome to stay, and anyone else is welcome to join us as the Olde Mouldy opens for regular business where you can order terrific food and another dram of two from their menu if that’s what you want to do.

    Tickets are $300 per person. To reserve a space, please reply here.

Please pass this on to any friends who are whisky enthusiasts!

Joe Howell

Federal Wine & Spirits

Email: info@federalwine.com

Phone: (617) 367-8605

Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

OUR SEPTEMBER AUCTION IS NOW LIVE!

Our latest auction is now live, and will end on Tuesday 6 October. This is our biggest auction yet, with an extended number of limited-edition bottlings from Islay, including many released from the early years of the Feis Ile festival. Look out for rare bottles, including one signed by Jim McEwan, as well as distillery-only releases from Kilchoman and Lagavulin. We also have a some springcapped blended Scotch. Our Bourbon and Miniature line-up is strong, too, with the appearance of two rare Irish blended whiskeys from the 1930s – Burke’s 3 Star and Mitchells Shamrock.

• Macallan 1959, 43 Year Old Fine & Rare
• Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu 23 Year Old Cask Strength
• Bruichladdich Black Art 1989 First Edition signed by Jim McEwan
• The John Walker Baccarat Crystal Decanter, one of 330
• Brora 1972, bottled in 1996 by Gordon & MacPhail
• Macallan Royal Marriage
• Karuizawa 1979 Cask #7752
• Port Ellen 1978 10th Annual Release

You can bid in two ways: either increase the highest bid by a fixed amount, or place your maximum bid straightaway – ideal if you can’t be online on the last day of our auction. Be the first to bid!

Hi folks. The auction is now live with an incredible array of top-class whiskies.

Enjoy!

Kind regards from Glasgow

THE 54TH AUCTION

Companions of the Quaich Vancouver Chapter Whisky Tasting

Wednesday, September 30, 7pm     Legacy Liquor Store legacyliquorstore.com

Cost: $45 per person

Join us for 5 delicious drams, ages ranging from 12 to 40 years, including one from a distillery which is now silent. Please join us for what promises to be an entertaining and educational night around the harvest tasting table at Legacy. The Companions of the Quaich is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting and sharing knowledge and enjoyment of Whisky. We are an eclectic group of individuals who share a common interest in, and a passion for, the whiskies of Scotland and the world.

Open to members and non-members alike, this is also a great way to try before you buy.

• Blackbull 12
• Blackbull 40
• Glen Moray 17
• Caperdonich 21
• Coal Ila 31 

Plus 2 mysteries D&T drams 

Featuring Peter Currie, the Brand Global Ambassador for Duncan Taylor and brands

http://www.duncantaylor.com/team-view/peter-currie/ 

Please email info@vanquaich.com to reserve your seat and arrange for payment

Maltstock 2016 Early Bird Discount

Couldn’t make it to Maltstock this year? Next year we are back! Also, we are back again next year in the beginning of September (09-11-Sept 2016). Buy a ticket for Maltstock 2016 before Monday September 28th 2015, 23:59:59 CET and receive a relaxed 25 Euro discount! Early bird tickets are only available in our (new) Online Early Bird Ticket Shop: “click here to access the shop“. Be aware: this Early Bird Shop will close Monday September 28th at midnight. 

Visit maltstock.com or go directly to our shop: SHOP

Laphroaig Live 2015 returns home to the island of Islay to celebrate 200 years

On Thursday 24^th September at 8pm local time the ninth annual Laphroaig Live will broadcast live on the web from the island of Islay.

Laphroaig is this year celebrating 200 years and to mark this very special anniversary we are returning to the home of Laphroaig, the island of Islay to showcase four phenomenal whiskies as well as going behind the scenes at the distillery with Laphroaig’s very own distillery manager on this auspicious year John Campbell who will be joined by no less than five of the previous distillery managers! The first time they have all been together.

This year we will be tasting 4 very special expressions. The one off Laphroaig 15 YO – the official 200^th Expression; Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015 – distilled using only the original small stills; Laphroaig 21 YO – created for the Friends of Laphroaig 21^st Birthday; and a unique Laphroaig 32 YO – 100% sherry matured, a very rare, special expression.

Coming live from Laphroaig’s famous floor malting’s, one of only a handful left in the whisky industry, John Campbell and our five previous distillery managers will be joined by two experts Bernhard Schafer – whisky journalist and Master of the Quaich and Emma Andersson, Editor of Allt Om Whisky.

Also joining John will be Marcel van Gils, author of the official 200^th book about Laphroaig as well as many of our Friends of Laphroaig from many countries around the World.

But our main audience, who will as always be posting in their questions to the panel live on the night, is our worldwide audience of Laphroaig lovers, including a live link to Laphroaig US Whisky Ambassador Simon Brooking who will be joined by 75 Friends of Laphroaig via a live link to New York.

To celebrate this special occasion, Laphroaig will be attempting to set a world record by encouraging the whole global audience to raise a toast to Laphroaig on their 200^th anniversary!

You can watch the show live at http://www.laphroaig.com/live/ on Sept 24^th at 8pm local time and if you would like to submit a question for the panel you can send it in now at the above link. Note that John sends out Laphroaig nosing glasses for the best questions.

Join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with #LaphroaigLive

Some global times of Laphroaig Live on the 24th September;

UK 8pm

New York 4pm

Los Angeles 1pm

Sydney 6am (25^th September)

Stockholm 10pm

Berlin 10pm

NOTES

http://www.laphroaig.com/

Editors Notes:

• Laphroaig is the No.1 selling Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky globally
• Unmistakably peat-smoke flavours are delivered by burning local Islay peat, containing unique traces of seaweed and heather.
• One of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns.
• The Friends of Laphroaig programme keeps fans of the brand up to date with special offers and news from distillery manager, John Campbell. On signing up, members are allocated their own square foot of land on Islay, and their names are added to the members’ book in the friends lounge at the distillery. Members who visit the distillery are invited to collect their ‘rent’ – a dram of Laphroaig. The community comprises more than 669,000 like-minded Scotch fans from more than 190 countries.

About Beam Suntory Inc.:

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the flagship Jim Beam bourbon and Yamazaki Japanese whisky, as well as world renowned premium brands including Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s,  Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.  The company generates annual worldwide sales exceeding $4 billion excluding excise taxes.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial culture.  Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

A Surprise Arrival…

Speaking of surprises, the Hibiki Japanese Harmony, $106, came as a complete surprise to us. This is the first Suntory whisky made available to Canada in over 2 years, and it came without any forewarning. That surprised us, its quality did not. We have been very impressed over the years with the quality of Japanese whisky as a whole! The Harmony is another silky, fruity and very elegant Japanese whisky. And you don’t have to take our word for it, we have an open bottle if you want to come in and sample it! Hopefully it is a sign of more to come to Alberta from the famed Suntory Whisky Company…

Our 2015 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar is also noteworthy at this time. With just under 2 1/2 months until the beginning of Advent, 3/5 of them are already sold. While we might be left kicking ourselves for not producing enough of them, we won’t be quite as disappointed as you if you don’t place your order soon. This year’s calendar is even better than last’s and includes a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask for Christmas Day! More details can be found below.

Finally our Fall Tasting Schedule has been very well received this year. Many of the tastings like our Fall Single Malt Festival are sold out, but rest easy, there are a lot of exciting tastings still available like our BenRiach and Glendronach Casks Release, November 11!

I hope you enjoy this little Malt Messenger bulletin. There is more exciting whisky news to come in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned!

Slainté!

Andrew

In This Edition

1. Whisky Advent 2015 More Than 3/5 Sold
2. Upcoming Tastings
3. New Hibiki Harmony

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market

PS- PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/scotch_guy and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1 .

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

 2015 KENSINGTON WINE MARKET
WHISKY ADVENT CALENDAR
25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky…

The Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar is 3/5 Sold Out!

Kensington Wine Market’s Whisky Advent Calendar is back! Last year’s calendar, our second and the first one we produced entirely in house, was a huge hit. It sold out before it hit the shelves. This year’s is even better. It still includes 24 x 50ml whiskies and a custom Glencarin whisky glass. But, that is not all! We are offering an even wider range of whiskies and we are also including an extra 25th bottle. As a special treat for Christmas morning, there will be a 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask bottling. This is a rare treat indeed, and usually only available to Society members. All of this year’s whiskies are different from 2014 and we are really excited about the range. There are 23 single malts from Scotland, Ireland, India and Taiwan, as well as a boutique blend and a boutique blended malt. Whether it is for yourself or to give as a gift, we know it won’t disappoint. Don’t hesitate! This one is sure to sell out fast!

You can pre-order the 2015 Kensington Wine Market Advent Calendar online, by phone 403-283-8000 or in store. A $150 deposit will be taken for each calendar requested. The final price will be $400. The calendars should be ready for pick-up before the end of October.

Pre-Order the 2015 Kensington Wine Market Whisky Advent Calendar $400+GST
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Fall Tasting Schedule – Up Coming Tastings!
Many of them are going fast, and the Festival is SOLD OUT…

Our fall tasting schedule is the best of the best we have to offer all year. There is something for everyone in here, and lots of new and exciting events! I know you’ll find much t salivate over and enjoy!

Many of you will be disappointed that our Fall Single Malt Festival is sold out, but the night before on Wednesday the 11th we have a mini-festival of whiskies from three of our favourite distilleries, Glendronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh. We have casks of BenRiach (1996) and Glendronach (2003) coming, so we are throwing a release party. More than 20 whiskies will be available for sampling including the new casks with Brand Ambassador Alisdair Stevenson.

1. Classic Single Malts – Tuesday September 29 – 7pm – This is our “classic” introduction to the world of single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll discover a little history, how it’s made and sample six distinct styles. – $35 – Only 7 spots left!
2. Bourbon Cask Tasting – Tuesday October 13 – 7pm – We have some exciting new American whiskies on the way including exclusive casks from Barton, our own 1792 Ridgemont Reserve cask, and a first in Canada, our own exclusive cask of Bernheim Kentucky Wheat Whiskey from Heaven Hill. – $35 – Only 9 spots left!
3. Classic Single Malts – Friday October 16 – 7pm – This is our “classic” introduction to the world of single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll discover a little history, how it’s made and sample six distinct styles. – $35 – Only 1 spot left!
4. Rare Malts – Tuesday October 20 – 7pm – Only the rarest whiskies, those 20+ years of age, those from closed distilleries and/or the exceptionally rare qualify for this tasting. -$80 – Only 6 spots left!
5. Gordon & MacPhail w/ Richard Urquhart – Sunday November 1 – 4pm – We have an excellent range for this tasting of Benromach and Gordon & MacPhail whiskies which will build to a finale including very rare offerings from Rosebank and Port Ellen. – $100 – Only 11 spots left!
6. Springbank w/ Ranald Watson – Monday November 2 – 7pm – One of our favourite ambassadors Ranald Watson will be in to do a grand tasting of Springbank including a new exclusive Society bottling and the 21 and 25 year olds! – $50
7. Kilchoman w/ Anthony Wills – Tuesday November 3 7pm – Kilchoman is one of our favourite Islay whiskies and our 4th exclusive single cask in here. We’ll sample it against our last bottling as well as at least 4 other big smoky Islay whiskies. – $30 – Only 8 spots left!
8. Old Pulteney, Once in a Lifetime w/ Gordon Stevenson – Thursday November 5, 7pm – KWM is thrilled to be the first store in Canada to obtain our own exclusive cask from this legendary Northern Highland distillery. We be sampling it as well as the whole Old Pulteney Range up to and including the 40 Year priced at $3000. – $150 – Only 9 spots left!
9. BenRiach/Glendronach Cask Launch w/ Alistair Stevenson – Wednesday November 11 – 7pm – To celebrate the launch of our 5th and 6th casks we are throwing a party with Alisdair Stevenson featuring whiskies from BenRiach and Glendronach as well as their sister distillery Glenglassaugh. – $30
10. Master Malt – Tuesday November 24 – 7pm – We pull out all the stops at this tasting featuring whiskies that are very old, very rare and very pricey. This is a tasting that will never be repeated again. – $125
Register for our tastings in store, by phone 403-283-8000 and online!

Introducing the Hibiki Japanese Harmony!
The first Suntory whisky in Canada in over 3 years… $106

The base of the whisky, Japanese single malts and grain, have been matured in American oak casks. The dressing is the more rare and complex Sherry and Mizunara (Japanese oak) notes. The single malts have been sourced from Hakushu and Yamazaki and the grain whiskies from Chita. Altogether more than 10 different whisky styles were used in creating the blend! This is the first Suntory whisky made available in Canada in more than 2 years.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony – 43% – Blended Japanese Whisky – Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: clean, floral and grainy with a touch of juicy malt; delicate fruits, melon and kiwi with lots of vanilla and subtle spices. Palate: juicy, fruity and floral with toasty American oak and rich spices (Mizunara?); lots of fruits here, more melon and kiwi, silky grains and chewy malt mingle with orange peel and vanilla bean. Finish: long, toasty and silky with fading fruits, spices and sugars. Comment: Japanese blends never seem to disappoint, and this one is no exception. It is very elegant and complex. Hopefully we get more than promissed…”

Distiller’s Tasting Note: “Nose: rose, lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness, sandalwood. Palate: honeylike sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate. Finish: subtle, tender long finish, with hint of Mizunara (Japanese oak).”
______________________________

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger!

Contact & Disclaimers

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change, don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger.

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
Manager & Scotchguy
Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator
Ferguson’s Whisky Tours
www.fergusonwhiskytours.com
scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015

Celebrating 200 years of Laphroaig

Joe writes,

Let me set the scene:

The year 2005 – The place – Islay International Airport.

I was on Islay attending The Bruichladdich Academy and the I stayed on for the following week to attend the Islay Fest. Some friends were coming over to the island for the festival and I was waiting for the plane to come in. Laphroaig’s distillery manager John Campbell was also there, waiting for one of his importers. We started talking and a few minutes later we were talking about 2015 and Laphroaig’s 200th Anniversary.  I said to John that it would be great to have a bottling with all your own floor maltings. He had the look of a Cheshire Cat and said that it might be something that could happen. Little did I know that it had been set for almost two years at that point.  I told John That I would be there in 2015 and in the last week of May this year, I was just barely able to get over there and it was a great time!

Laphroaig hasn’t done all its own floor maltings for decades and back then their stills were much smaller. For this year’s Cairdeas, they used only their smaller spirit stills and distilled only barley they malted themselves, just like they would have done back in the 1950s. The whisky was bottled at 11 years 9 months of age and at cask strength. this is a rare glimpse into “old-school” Laphroaig, and a real cracker! The Cairdeas 2015 is a limited bottling — this is going to go fast and when it is gone, it is gone. The Cairdeas is wonderful neat but when water is added, it really opens up and it has a creaminess that is precious. This will probably be gone before many even know about it. Get it while you can. Both the 15 Y.O. and the Cairdeas are limited releases and are wonderful, heavily peated single malts.

So, curious about what exactly is meant by “old school Laphroaig”? Wondering just how close they came in their attempted recreation? Get ready to find out!

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015 $84.99

Laphroaig 15 year old $79.99

Laphroaig Masterclass at the Olde Mouldy

presented by Joe Howell of Federal Wines and Spirits

Saturday, October 3rd, 7pm

to fête the bicentennary of Laphroaig!

73 Ames Street, Cambridge

Most of you saw the announcement we sent out a month ago about Nate’s new pet project (if you missed it, find it here), and we’re happy now to announce our first collaboration. The Olde Mouldy will play host to our celebration of Laphroaig’s 200th anniversary! Laphroaig holds a very special place in my heart, and I couldn’t let the date go by without pulling out all the stops. Unfortunately, I don’t personally plan to be around for their 300th, so now is the time! This is going to be the most precious Laphroaig tasting I could ever conceive of doing (and between you and me, I’m pretty good at conceiving of ridiculous tastings!)

We’ll start with the modern Laphroaig 10 year, to reacquaint ourselves with what their spirit is like now. Then we’ll jump into this year’s Cairdeas and taste it against a bottle of Laphroaig 10 year old bottled in 1969 — exactly the spirit they were trying to recreate! From there, we’ll try the 15 year old they also released this year to celebrate their bicentenary and THEN we’ll get crazy! We’ll open up two of the oldest whiskies they have ever bottled — the 30 year old and the 40 year old distilled in 1960! To cap it all off, everyone in attendance will get a bottle of the limited edition and so precious Cairdeas all for themselves, so they can relive the magic of the evening long after the fact, sitting at home, savoring this piece of liquid history.

This will be an evening of magical whisky, and magical company. Some of these bottles are unspeakably rare and expensive, and we’re offering a line-up of malts that you won’t ever find again, and definitely not for this price! Each and every one of these bottles is precious.

Pours will be 1/2 ounce per whisky, bottles may be picked up only from Federal Wines at 29 State Street in Boston any time after payment. Bottles will not be available for pick-up on the night of the event. When the masterclass is over, all are welcome to stay, and anyone else is welcome to join us as the Olde Mouldy opens for regular business where you can order terrific food and another dram of two from their menu if that’s what you want to do.

Laphroaig 10 year old $59.99

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015 $84.99

Laphroaig 10 year old bottled c. 1969 – not available

Laphroaig 15 year old $79.99

Laphroaig 30 – not available

Laphroaig 40 – not available

Tickets are $300 per person. Space and spirits are limited. 30 seats available.

To reserve, call or email Joe Howell at Federal wines and spirits

joe@federalwine.com

617-367-8605

Joe Howell

Federal Wine & Spirits

Email: info@federalwine.com

Phone: (617) 367-8605

Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

Laphroaig Live 2015 is just around the corner and I am delighted to say that this year’s broadcast brings the show home to Islay www.laphroaig.com/live.

On Thursday 24th September 8:00pm (UK local time) our special ‘200th’ Laphroaig Live party will broadcast direct from the distillery – the upper malting floor to be precise! With over 80 guests joining us from far and wide plus a live link to Simon Brooking in New York, it’s going to be one big party. I really want everybody who possibly can, to share our celebrations with us so please make a note of the date in your diary.

On this Laphroaig Live you will not just be meeting one Laphroaig Distillery manager, you will be meeting 6! Yes – for the first time ever John MacDougall (1970-1974), Denis Nicol (1974-1980), Murdo Reed (1980-1987), Colin Ross (1987-1989), Iain Henderson (1989-2002) plus Robert Hicks (Master Blender 1972-2013) and myself will be gathered together under the roof we have all loved so much over so many years – and there’s more…

Our very special panel – including actor Sam Heughan! Whilst Laphroaig is enjoyed all round the World, Laphroaig embodies Scotland at its heart. Therefore I wanted a true Laphroaig loving Scotsman as my special guest for the evening. I am both proud and delighted that none other than Sam Heughan has agreed to join us on the 24th. Millions of you will already know Sam from his starring role in the wildly popular series Outlander, but he is also an avid fan of Laphroaig, with Quarter Cask as his favourite expression. Joining Sam on the panel from Germany shall be Bernard Schafer who knows more about Laphroaig than any other German I know and from Sweden, Emma Andersson, editor of Sweden’s leading whisky magazine Allt Om Whisky. We’ll also be joined by Simon Brooking with many special guests live from New York.

The special whiskies for the night The first one I laid down myself 12 years ago – it’s this year’s very special ‘small stills’ 200th Cairdeas 2015. The other whiskies tonight were distilled by my predecessors, including our famous 15 year old – brought back specially for this 200th year. We’ll also be tasting the 21 year old bottled to celebrate the 21 years of The Friends of Laphroaig. I am certain Iain Henderson will want to say a few words about The Friends of Laphroaig since he started it but he also made their birthday whisky! Then to round off, something amazingly rare and special we have a 32 year old that has been sleeping for all these years in the finest Olorosso Sherry hogsheads. To see the colour is extraordinary – to taste it, well I can’t wait!

Please join me in the World’s largest Laphroaig Toast. I wish to create the World’s largest Friends of Laphroaig toast – perhaps even the largest whisky toast ever (it does not matter which Laphroaig you are drinking on the night). I will be raising a glass to the Friends of Laphroaig and the next 200 years. On your screen will be a ‘cheers’ button you can click when I raise my glass. So please join me on 24th September to toast Laphroaig.

Send me your questions now. As always we will be answering your questions on the night – so please send them in now. I will send 200th anniversary nosing glasses to the best ones! Click here to send in your question now or live on the night. See you on the 24th!

If you want to know the correct time of the broadcast where you live please go to www.laphroaig.com/live where there is a special app that will do this for you.

Slàinte,

John Campbell Distillery Manager, Laphroaig

Big Bockje Bathmen Blind Bottle Battle

The Blind Bottle Battle is Back! And we have two amazing prizes for the winner. Would you like to win a bottle of Breas of Glenlivet 25 year old from the Carn Mor series? enter your most relaxed whisky and you might be the lucky winner. All bottles will be tasted blind.

Some rules, not much:

1 – Enter your bottle before Friday 21.00. (enter the bottle at the bar)

2 – Bottle has to be a closed bottle. Opened bottles can not enter.

3 – Bottle has to be 0.7l or more.

Pre-selection by a council of wise men and or woman.

Saturday from 12.30 till 17.00 all guests can blind taste the bottles who came through the pre selection round. You decide what the most relaxed whisky will be! 

Would you like to win a relaxed bottle of Champagne? Utter sputter as fast as possible “Big Bockje Bathmen Blind Bottle Battle” 3 times in a row the fastest, and the bottle is yours.

The bottles are very kindly donated by ‘t Bockje in Bathmen.

best of whiskies midnight café

Last year’s Midnight Cafe was a very relaxed success. We are very happy to announce that the Midnight Cafe is back this year!! DJ Nihil$ (Nils van Rijn), will be spinning 80’s & 90’s tunes behind the wheels of steel. Party on into the early hours, impress the ladies with your dance skills or just drink a soda or pint with your friends.

Ow yes… of course all your drinks at our Midnight cafe are included with your ticket!

Best of whiskies has a relaxed assortiment of whiskies, check it out at www.bestofwhiskies.com

Standard ranges, collectables and the more rare stuff to drink. Tip: buy a bottle at their webshop, bring it to Maltstock and share and enjoy with your friends.