Gordon & MacPhail Whisky Tasting
In-store
Thursday, April 9th
Two Pourings
4:30 and 6:00

This Thursday  we will have Gary Kiemach, Senior V.P. of G&M’s importer join us with some wonderful single-malts from independent bottler Gordon & Macphail. There will be two sessions with exactly the same line up, the first at 4:30 and again at 6:00 — each lasting a bit short of an hour. Pick whichever time works best for you. It has been a while so make sure you make it.

All the malts are very good but two are extra special:

The Balblair 21 Y.O. is a sherry cask single malt from one of the most picturesque distilleries in Scotland (says Nate, Joe maintains Strathisla is tops for him). I think it will be one of the best of the year. Things like this never last as long as I would like, and too many people won’t get a chance at one.

The Benromach 10 Y.O Cask Strength really hit me. It comes from a small Speyside distillery which reopened in 1998 and has been making great whisky with passion ever since.It’s a distillery to watch. This 10 Y.O. spent its time in first fill bourbon barrels giving it a wonderful fruitiness and a very special elegance.

Gordon and Macphail Tasting:

Miltonduff 10 Y.O. 43% Reg Price $59.99 – Tasting Special $53.99

Benromach 10 Y.O. Cask Str. 58.2% Reg Price $99.99 – Tasting Special $89.99

Linkwood 15 Y.O. 43% Reg Price $83.99 – Tasting Special $74.99

Balblair 21 Y.O.  53.4% Tasting Special $249.99 includes 2 scotch glasses for orders through day of tasting only

Ledaig 14 Y.O.  Cask Str.  56.9% Reg Price $114.99 – Tasting Special $103.99

Caol Ila  10 Y.O. 46% Reg Price $69.99 – Tasting Special $62.99

Joe Howell

Federal Wine & Spirits

Email: info@federalwine.com

Phone: (617) 367-8605

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

 

 

Grape and Grain >  19 Greville St, London – Tue 7 Apr

Breaking a taboo with 3 Society drams with 3 contrasting wines

Beer & Whisky Tasting > The Vaults, Leith – Thu 9 Apr

Celebrating the ‘hauf ‘n’ hauf’ as part of Spritzich Whisky & Beer celebrations

Browse All Tastings >

Browse New Outturn >
Browse All Bottlings >

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 at 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

Malt Messenger Bulletin – Spring Tasting Schedule & a Few New Gems

It’s hard to believe a month has passed since the last Malt Messenger. I was in Vegas for the Nth 2015 whisky show, and we’ve had some excellent tastings at KWM including, The Dalmore with David Robertson, a very well received Rare Malts tasting and last week’s epic Master Malts which is written up on our blog.

April and May are going to be exciting months for whisky in Alberta with a lot of exciting new releases on the way. Some of them have already begun trickling into KWM, with more due in the weeks and months ahead. The next full Malt Messenger will be a preview of what’s coming! In this bulletin I’m going to highlight a few gems you won’t want to miss out on, like a 38 year old Glenallachie for $235 and a 33 year old Fettercairn for $215, both from Old Malt Cask.

The main impetus of this Malt Messenger Bulletin is to alert you to the new Spring Tasting Schedule which is now online and open for registration. We have some new additions to the lineup such as the two Cadenheads tastings featuring new releases, Ardbeg Day Master Classes and a Canada Day Canadian whisky tasting. I’m most excited about the Last Samurai Supper at Buchanan’s Chop House which will feature the Taketsuru 25 Year and a bottling of Karuizawa. There is a Spring Single Malt Festival too, don’t wait too long getting your tickets to that one, last year’s sold out in just days!

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Malt Messenger, a full edition of the Malt Messenger will be shortly on its heels!

In This Edition

1. SPRING 2015 TASTING SCHEDULE
2. ARDBEG DAY 2015: Join us in the Future
3. NEW WHISKIES FROM: Old Malt Cask
4. NEW WHISKIES FROM: Adelphi
5. THIS JUST IN: Kilchoman Original Cask Strength
6. NEW FROM CARN MOR CELBRATION OF THE CASK
7. DOUBLING IN PRICE: Black Bull 40 Year

Sláinte!

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

Cadenhead Whiskies Pt. 1 – Rare Old Malts

We’ll sample an amazing range of single cask and small batch whiskies from Cadenhead, ranging up to 38 years of age. Also from Benromach, Imperial, Old Pulteney, Longmorn, Tormore and more!

Thursday April 23

$85

More Information

 Cadenhead Whiskies Pt. 2 – All Around Scotland

From the Lowlands, to the Highlands, Speyside and Islay we’ve got a great range of Small Batch Cadenhead bottlings from 12 to 21 years of age!

Thursday April 30

$40

More Information

Spring 2015 Tasting Schedule 

American, Canadian, Irish, Japanese & Scotch Tastings…

We pride ourselves on the unique whisky tastings we put on at Kensington Wine Market. Most of them are of our own design with the products were most excited about. One things for sure, you’ll never experience the same tasting twice! Here is a our Spring Whisky and Liquor Tasting Schedule:

1. Whisky, Women and Chocolate – Thursday April 16 –

Gather your girlfriends for a pairing of everyone’s two favorite food groups, whisky and chocolate! – $50

1. Cadenhead Whiskies Pt.1 – Rare Old Malts – Thursday April 23 –

We’ll sample an amazing range of single cask and small batch whiskies from Cadenhead, ranging up to 38 years of age. Also from Benromach, Imperial, Old Pulteney, Longmorn, Tormore and more! – $85

1. Cadenhead Whiskies Pt. 2 – All Around Scotland – Thursday April 30 – From the Lowlands, to the Highlands, Speyside and Islay we’ve got a great range of Small Batch Cadenhead bottlings from 12 to 21 years of age! – $40
2. Cinco de Mayo – Tuesday May 5 – Join us for a fête celebrating Mexican independence and the national drink, tequila! We’ll sample a range of Blanco, Reposado and Anejo tequilas. – $50
3.  Jameson Whiskey & Friends – Thursday May 7 – Join Jameson Brand Ambassador Claire Gavin for a tasting of some of Ireland’s finest whiskies. We’ll sample the Jameson range up to and including Rarest Vintage Reserve, Red Breast, Green Spot and Midleton Very Rare! – $40
4. Classic Single Malts – Tuesday May 12 – This is our classic introduction to the world of single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll discover a little history, learn how it’s made, and sample six distinct styles. – $35
5. Blockbuster Single Malts – Thursday May 28 – Join us for a tasting of some of KWM’s bestselling single malts with our own Hunter Sullivan. Like these whiskies, this tasting is sure to sell out in a flash! – $50
6. Ardbeg Day Master Class 1 – Saturday May 30 1PM – We’ll be holding two back to back Master Classes to celebrate Ardbeg Day. Both will feature a range of at least 5 whiskies including the new Ardbeg Day release. – $20
7. Ardbeg Day Master Class 2 – Saturday May 30

3PM – We’ll be holding two back to back Master Classes to celebrate Ardbeg Day. Both will feature a range of at least 5 whiskies including the new Ardbeg Day release. – $20

1. Ardbeg Day Join Us in the Future – At Gerry Thomas Gallery: 602 11 Ave SW – Saturday May 30 5PM – Join Brand Ambassador Jordan Cameron for a festive and quirky party event celebrating all things Ardbeg with great whisky, cocktails, games, prizes, food and perhaps a surprise or two. – $20
2. Bourbon Bonanza – Thursday June 4 –

Fancy a feast (no cats) of Bourbon and BBQ? We’ll be teaming up with Holy Smokes to put on a Kentucky-style BBQ featuring a wide range of American whiskies! – $40

1. Spring Single Malt Festival – Thursday June 11 – Our biannual single malt festivals sell out very quickly, and there’s a reason why. There is only room for 100 guests to sample over 100 of the finest whiskies in Alberta. Includes your own Glencairn whisky glass! – $60
2. The Last Samurai Supper – Buchanan’s Chop House (738 3 Ave SW) will be putting on a Japanese dinner to pair with a range of 7 incredible Japanese whiskies, including the Taketsuru 25 Year ($1100) and Karuizawa 1981 Cask 136 (sold out $885). – $160
3. Heaven Hill Bourbons & American Whiskey – Tuesday June 23 – Join us as we host Bernie Lubbers (“The Whiskey Professor), Heaven Hill’s American Whiskey Brand Ambassador for a tasting of Bourbon, Wheat, Rye and other American whiskies! – $30
4. Canada Day Whisky – Thursday June 25 – Come on, show some pride in Canadian whisky! We’ll be highlighting the best our country has to offer from coast to shinning coast! As a fun bonus, there’ll be delicious prizes for the most patriotic outfits! – $35

You can register for these tastings in store, by phone 403-283-8000 and online! 

ARDBEG DAY 2015: Join us in the Future 

Two Master Classes & One Big Party

From the Distillery: “Ardbeg Day 2015 marks our 200th anniversary. That’s no mean feat. For 200 years, Islay craftsmen have used skills handed down through generations to distil our beloved whisky. A whisky that today is worshipped around the world, yet is still made by hand, in a handful of buildings perched on Islay’s rocky coast.”

In fact, if our founder John McDougall were to see the Distillery today, he might be surprised to see that not much has changed in 200 years.”

Which got us thinking – what will Ardbeg look like 200 years from now?”

We’ll be hosting two Master Classes at KWM featuring a range of five Ardbeg single malts, and are helping to promote and sell tickets to the Ardbeg Day Party at 5PM the same day.

1. Ardbeg Day Master Class 1 – Saturday May 30 1PM – We’ll be holding two back to back Master Classes to celebrate Ardbeg Day. Both will feature a range of at least 5 whiskies including the new Ardbeg Day release. – $20
2. Ardbeg Day Master Class 2 – Saturday May 30 3PM – We’ll be holding two back to back Master Classes to celebrate Ardbeg Day. Both will feature a range of at least 5 whiskies including the new Ardbeg Day release. – $20
3. Ardbeg Day Join Us in the Future – At Gerry Thomas Gallery: 602 11 Ave SW – Saturday May 30 5PM – Join Brand Ambassador Jordan Cameron for a festive and quirky party event celebrating all things Ardbeg with great whisky, cocktails, games, prizes, food and perhaps a surprise or two. – $20

You can register for these tastings in store, by phone 403-283-8000 and online! 

NEW WHISKIES FROM OLD MALT CASK 

Fettercairn 33 Year $215 & Glenallachie 38 Year $235

These two little gems have been in the market for years, quite literally. The Fettercairn was bottled in 2008 and the Glenallachie in 2011. That’s not to say that stores weren’t buying them, maybe they were, though I doubt there was ever very much of either brought in. I never had the opportunity to sample, so I passed them over when they came in and forgot about them. I decided to take a risk last week while looking for a couple of whiskies to round out my Master Malts tasting. The pricing on both was fantastic, and they were both from fairly obscure distilleries. Well, they were a hit, and I scooped up some more, but even

that won’t last! Here are my tasting notes on both:

1. OMC Fettercairn 33 Year – 50% – 1975 – Refill Hogshead DL Ref 4439 – 209 Bottles – My Tasting Note: “Nose: sweet and sour at the same time, unctuous and unami; creamy and floral with tropical fruits and melon; hard candies and powdered sugar; Palate: very creamy, floral and minty with melon and tropical fruits; the unami and unctuous notes are still there with lots of white chocolate some crisp spice; Finish: long, floral and coating fading tropical fruits and spice; Comment: this is unusual, but very interesting and layered. – $214.99 – Only 6 left!
2. OMC Glenallachie 38 Year – 50% – 1972 – Sherry Butt DL Ref 6880 – 302 Bottles – Andrew’s Tasting Note: Nose: old and antiquey, like an old library filled with dusty leather bound books; dried and dark fruits with treacle sauce and stick toffee pudding; Palate: dark fruits and spices, more antique notes with dusty old leather bound books, and tobacco; melons, mangoes and other tropical fruits underneath dark chocolate and licorice; Finish: long, sherried. elegant and smooth; Comments: this is a classic older sherried whisky.” – $234.99 – Only 6 left!

NEW WHISKIES FROM ADELPHI 

Some intriguing new single malts! 

I’ve long been a fan of Adelphi’s single cask bottlings, have yet to have a bag whisky from them yet. I also really enjoy their Fascadale and Liddesdale releases, which like the single cask, are excellent value for money!

1. Adelphi Bladnoch 1989 – 59.3% – 24 Year – Bourbon Barrel – My Tasting Note: “Nose: intensely floral, citic and toasty with pineapple and citric sugars; long, toasty and dusty with milk chocolate and white fruits; Palate: big, floral and toasty, more crisp citrus and pineapple; lots of honey and barley sugars with some licorice and white fruits; Finish: long, oily and coating with dark spices and light fruits.” – $169.99 – Only one bottle left! 
2. Adelphi BenRiach 1990 – 52.9% – Matured in a South African Wine Cask Approximately 300 L – Producer’s Description: “The nose is very creamy and quite unusual:  Caboc cheese, with buttered scones and tea roses, strawberries in the development and a definite hint of Angels Delight. Remarkably sweet and lively for a 23 year old whisky, best tasted at natural strength. The addition of a little water introduces a pleasant herbal note in the finish.” – $189.99 – Only 6 bottles!
3. Adelphi Fascadale Batch 7 – 46% – 14 Year – More info to come! -“Fascadale ‘ships haven’, lies on the north west point of the rugged, and timeless Ardnamurchin peninsula. Its hidden, pebbled beach looks West and North towards the islands of Eigg, Rum, Muck and Skye. Whispered tales of smuggling abound…” Producer’s Tasting Note: “A breather on the hill with lemon drizzle cake., Red Pippin apples, creamy highland fudge and peat bogs. A little smoke to taste with lingering fresh apple skin.” – $89.99
4. Adelphi Fascadale Batch 8 – 46% – 14 Year – More info to come! – Producer’s Tasting Note: “A walk through damp moorland flowers, in a wax jacket with a pocket full of boiled sweets and salted toffee. Asprinkling of chimney soot and a sweet, syrupy finish.” – $89.99
5. Adelphi Glen Garioch 1993 – 59.0% – 21 Year – Sherry Butt – Producer’s Description: “A dry nose, almost meaty (pork crackling), becoming more Marsala like. Jaffacakes, Black Forest Gâteau, chocolate ice cream and coffee grounds – all synonymous with long, sherried maturation. It starts relatively closed then develops huge complexity, now with Brazil nuts coated in dark chocolate, molasses, saddle soap and old leather bags. Incredibly viscous to taste, with a spicy mouth feel, gently drying over a palate of chocolate bonbons, toffee sauce (possibly slightly burnt), and a hint of brandy snaps.

A very rare and unique single cask whisky ideal for after dinner contemplation.” – $199.99

1. Adelphi Glenturret 1988 – 51.8% – 25 Year – Ex-Bourbon Barrel –  Producer’s Description: “Vivid butterscotch to start, fading through mild cheese, possibly cheese cloth or an old dairy, then eucalyptus and sandalwood.  Very old fashioned.  Dampness in a traditional dunnage maturation warehouse (full of old sherry butts).  Hessian coal sacks. Very sweet to start, drying with more hessian and a mouth cooling eucalyptus.  Water emphasises cream cheese and old warehouses – an increasingly old fashioned style of whisky.  The hessian is now soaked in old whisky, more like bung cloth. Sweet to start, then distinctly savoury – the elusive Umami? A remarkable rare old whisky.” – $209.99
2. Adelphi Liddesdale Batch 8 – 46% – 21 Year – Sherry Cask Matured – Distilled at Bunnahabhain – “Liddesdale rising gently from the southern shore of Loch Sunart, Liddesdale Brae is steeped in folklore. Some speak of the ‘Devil’s Acre’ where the old widow ‘sell’d her coo to the De’il’; nothing grows there. Others whisper of the “Fairie Knoll’, protected for all time by the ‘Deaf Shepherd’ looking down from the skyline.” Producer’s Tastiing Note: “A festive feast – Christmas cake with brandy butter, cloves, sticky toffee pudding and rumtopf. A sweet cafe creme cigar and a morsel of dark geranium chocolate to finish.” – $134.99

THIS JUST IN: Kilchoman Original Cask Strength 

The Distillery’s First Refill Bourbon Matured Release

We had a chance to sample this with Anthony Wills at a KWM tasting in the fall. Well this tasty new Kilchoman has finally arrived.

Kilchoman Original Cask Strength Batch 1 – 59.2% – Refill Bourbon – My Tasting Note: “Nose: wow, butterscotch, honey and Werthers caramels with clean maritime smoke bringing up the rear; soft citrus notes, green Jolly Ranchers wet leaves and floral top notes with soft oak; Palate: soft honeyed oak, more wet leaves, crisp citrus, more green Jolly Ranchers and buildiing peaty smoke with fragrant smoke and juicy malt; become more medicinal and smoky with some tarry oak and salty licorice; Finish: classic Islay big, brooding and moody with earthy smoke, more juicy malt and maritime notes. – $124.99

NEW FROM CARN MOR CELEBRATION OF THE CASK  

Clynelish 1989 24 Year – $259.99 

You don’t often see older bottling of Clynelish such as this, and certainly not from the distillery’s owner Diageo. This 24 year old bottling was distilled in 1989 and matured in a Hogshead cask 5890, bottled at 52%. KWM is only getting 12 bottles.

CofC Clynelish 24 Year  – 52% – Hogshead Cask 5890 – My Tasting Note: “Nose: very floral and honeyed, lots of beeswax and dried diced light fruits with building spice; becomes toastier with almond brittle, orange peel, ginger and cardamom; Palate: big, coating, waxy, creamy and spicy with loads of toasty oak; creamed honey, Manukah honey, floral rosehips and loads of spice, lots of ginger, cinnamon and cardamom with even a touch of clove and anise; Finish: very long and coating, it is honeyed, toasty and spicy. – $259.99

DOUBLING IN PRICE: Duncan Taylor Black Bull 40 Year 

Get em while you can! – Only 12 bottles available…

A brilliant blend at an amazing price for its age. Set to double in price! Batch #3 has been bottled at 41.6% and consists of whiskies from Ben Nevis, Bunnahabhain, Caperdonich, Glen Grant, Glenlivet, Highland Park and Invergordon. 85.6% malt and 14.4% Grain.

Duncan Taylor Black Bull 40 Year 3rd Ed. – 41.6% – My Tasting Note: Nose: faint smoke, white chocolate, chewy malt, thin filaments of grain whisky, caramel sauce and topical fruit; very soft and delicate, hints of lemon custard, big floral notes, raspberry compote and tangerines; Palate: clean, toasty, floral and fruity; very delicate , though it is showing some brittle oak age; subtly decadent: chocolate, white chocolat, vanilla, some faint floral smoke, chewy oaky oils and then some light tropical fruit, more raspberry puree and caramel sauce; Finish: the early smoke fades leaving room for the caramel sauce, raspberry compote and tropical fruits to loiter; Comment: a beautiful whisky and incredible value for its age and price. – $299.99

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.

Sláinte!

Andrew Ferguson

Manager & Scotchguy

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

http://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

Owner & Opperator

Ferguson’s Whisky Tours

www.fergusonwhiskytours.com

scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

Whisky School

Drambusters Festival 2015

Tickets on sale now..

£25

 

Ticket price includes a dramming glass, unlimited water,
programme and a full range of whiskies to sample plus
a few rums, gins, liqueurs and other spirits for good measure.

TICKETS WILL BE LIMITED TO 700 

FREE BUS RUNS BACK TO THE TOWN FROM 3.30pm 

BUS TIMETABLE FOR SERVICE BUSES GOING TO THE CRICHTON (service number 5)

There will, as before, be a shop on site so that you can take your favourite dram away with you and we will also be running the ‘Golden Dram’ competition once more… which whisky will be your favourite?!

LAST YEAR’S GOLDEN DRAM WINNER

Clynelish 1989
Celebration of the Cask

With our sold-out Japan Vs Scotland now finished (look out for a post soon with the results), we are quickly onto our next series.

Some of you may remember the last time we looked at independently bottled whiskies and the fantastic tastings that ensued. Well we’re at it again.

6 whiskies assembled from 6 of the finest ‘Indie’ bottlers in the land, for your delectation.

For those of you not in the know, Independent bottlers are those that take it upon themselves to buy casks from distillers, either already having reached maturity or not, warehouse and bottle it under their own name and label. These bottlings can give a fascinating incite into the distilleries in question as they are more often not unadulterated by the likes of chill-filtration or caramel colouring.

Click on the below links for details and tickets for your tasting area…

DATES AND VENUES:

LIVERPOOL Weds 15th APRIL 7pm JENNY’S BAR, FENWICK ST.
NEWCASTLE Weds 15th APRIL 7pm BLACKFRIARS, FRIARS STREET
LONDON Weds 15th APRIL 7pm SALT BAR, SEYMOUR ST., W2
MANCHESTER Friday 17th APRIL 7pm BRITONS PROTECTION
SHEFFIELD Tuesday 21st APRIL 7pm THE TAP, SHEFFIELD STATION
LEEDS Thurs. 23rd APRIL 7pm CROSSKEYS, WATER LANE
BRIGHTON Thurs. 23rd APRIL 7pm LORD NELSON, TRAFALGAR ST.
YORK Sat 25th APRIL 7pm BRIGANTES, MICKLEGATE

For those who wish they could come along but can’t make it, we also have our tremendous…

TASTING FROM HOME PACKS!

And for those of you in London (or not too far from it), please don’t forget we are less than 2 weeks from the start of our London Whisky Weekender on April 11th and 12th. Tickets are still available for both days, but get your skates on and clear your diaries!

This should be a real whisky weekend to remember with so much going on so is it worth risking missing out? Click HERE or on the banner for details and tickets.

That’s all for now – more news soon! We hope to see you all soon.

Slainte,
Eddie, Amanda and Joe
The Whisky Lounge Team.

The Whisky Lounge Ltd
Unit 3
61a Osbaldwick Lane
York, North Yorkshire YO10 3AY
United Kingdom

 

 Our March auction is now live and ends on Monday 6^th April 2015!

View March Auction

This is an incredible auction with almost 1,200 bottles available. We have a few highlights for you this month, starting with this highly collectible Macallan 1949 Millenium Decanter, matured for an impressive 50 years. 

This month’s curious rarity is this Dalmore 1939 Gallie & Co, bottled most likely during the late 1940s or early 1950s, this is without a doubt a piece of liquid history from a bottler which has ceased to exist from 1975.

Pappy Van Winkle has become the beacon of American whisky collecting. This month we have a great selection of the highly sought after range! 

For our first time we are bringing to the market a Port Ellen Feis Ile 2008, arguably the most sought after bottle of Port Ellen. This is the only official single cask Port Ellen, which yielded a mere 220 bottles! This exceptional collectible will no doubt be one to watch this month! 

Please remember! There is no registration fee, our commission structure is very competitive and we offer worldwide shipping. For our terms and conditions please click here.

With over 15 years of experience in the whisky industry, Whisky Auctioneer specialises in auctioning whisky whether it be fine, old, rare, collectable or affordable. Formed in 2013 and based in Perth, central Scotland, we aim to be the most comprehensive website for the buying and selling of whisky online.

www.whiskyauctioneer.com

Happy Bidding!

ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE^® Announces 2015 Results for Top Scotch, American, Canadian Whisky  

Hawthorne, NY (March 25, 2015) – Ultimate Spirits Challenge^®, the world’s platinum standard for spirits competitions, today announces the winners and full results for the 2015 Challenge. Ultimate Spirits Challenge, now in its sixth year, celebrates 33 Chairman Trophy winners, the highest award along with 162 Finalists as well as Tried & True Awards and Great Values. The Challenge, which grew by 14% from 2014, was held in its specially designed evaluation center in Hawthorne, NY.

“For 2015 we have moved Ultimate Spirits Challenge into our new state-of-the-art evaluation center and also moved to a new rolling judging schedule,” says USC founder F. Paul Pacult. “We broke up the Challenges into smaller categories so we are able to give each grouping of spirits greater in-depth attention, with the inclusion of cocktail evaluations. All our judges agree that this hyper-focus allows USC to provide the most trusted and sought after testimonials that help companies build their brands.”

USC 2015 – CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY WINNER

Tried & True Award (T&TA): Spirit brands are eligible for the Tried & True Award if they have scored 85 points or above in at least two Ultimate Spirits Challenges since 2010.  Great Values (GV): is awarded to products with a favorable relationship between their price and final USC score. They are the finest spirits within their respective price points. 

WHISKEY – USA

American: Lone Elm Texas Wheat

Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Years Old (T&TA)

Rye: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight 6 Years Old (T&TA)

Tennessee: George Dickel No. 12 (GV, T&TA) 

WHISKEY – IRELAND

Blended: Jameson 18 Years Old (T&TA)

Irish Pot Still: Redbreast 15 Years Old (T&TA)

Single Malt: Bushmills 16 Years Old (T&TA) 

WHISKY – SCOTLAND

Blended Malt: Sheep Dip (T&TA)

Blended: Dewar’s 18 Years Old (T&TA)

Single Malt: Aberlour A’bunadh Single Malt (GV, T&TA) 

WHISKY – CANADA

Tap Rye Sherry Finished 8 Years Old (GV) 

WHISKY – FRANCE

Armorik Single Malt Sherry Finish (T&TA) 

WHISKY – WALES

Penderyn Single Malt (T&TA) 

All products are rated on the 100-point scale by the spirits industry’s most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners. The judges for USC 2015: Founder/Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult, James Conley, Tad Carducci, Dale DeGroff, Gregg Glaser, Geoffrey Kleinman, Douglass Miller, Dan Nicolaescu, Steve Olson, Will Shine, Francis Schott, Andy Seymour and Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, MW.

All spirits rated 80 points and higher have a “FULL RESULTS” page which provides downloadable marketing materials and a bottle image for easy consumer identification. Spirits rated 85 points and higher also receive a “FULL RESULTS” page plus tasting notes, downloadable certificates and shelf-talkers. New for 2015 — cocktail evaluation for suitable spirits categories has been added and results will be released in April.

USC results are promoted globally via email and web publication to both trade buyers and consumers. In addition, high scoring products are featured in the Ultimate Beverage Challenge Guide published each year in the October issue of Beverage Media reaching more than 70,000 on- and off-premise spirits buyers. 

Ultimate Spirits Challenge…like no other competition and doesn’t want to be.

ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE

Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its two innovative annual competitions: Ultimate Spirits Challenge and Ultimate Wine Challenge. Based on exacting standards, expert judges and rigorous methodology, UBC raises the standards of spirits and wine evaluation and supplies ratings and accolades to help companies build their brands with buyers, both industry and consumer. UBC partners are F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot. Past Challenge results, event photos, entry forms and more information can be found at http://www.ultimate-beverage.com/.

Ultimate Beverage Challenge inquiries: info@ultimate-beverage.com, 1-347-878-6551

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UltimateBeverageChallenge

 

Whisky Intelligence will be taking part…join us on Twitter!

We’ve finally shed the cloak of winter. Spring temperatures and sunshine have returned, and we are once again looking forward to enjoying outdoor activities. In this week’s spiritual guide, we fill you in on what TPS Private Barrel Selections are now in-stock, as well as what is on-the-way. Our very own J.O. is back with the next installment of Drink Different, where we highlight some of the lesser-known gems on The Party Source shelves. Finally, mark your calendars for some upcoming events, and check out our new arrivals to make sure you’re drinking the latest and greatest this Spring.

Cheers, -The Party Source Spirits Department

PRIVATE BARREL UPDATE

In Stock:

OLD FORESTER Single Barrel Bourbon TPS Private Barrel – $39.99

JEFFERSON’S Bourbon TPS Private Barrel – $22.49

Future Private Barrels:

WOODFORD RESERVE Double Oaked Bourbon TPS Private Barrel

KNOB CREEK Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon TPS Private Barrel

1792 Barrel Select TPS Private Barrel (three selections)

NEW RIFF OKI Reserve Bourbon TPS Private Barrel

ANGELS ENVY Port Finish Bourbon TPS Blend We are very excited to announce we have chosen the first Private Barrel from John J. Bowman since 2011!

We expect to receive this nine year old bourbon sometime in May.

NEW TO THE PARTY

 JIM BEAM Signature Craft High Rye Bourbon 11 Year – $44.99

JIM BEAM Signature Craft Rolled Oat Bourbon 11 Year – $44.99

LEGACY Small Batch Blended Canadian Whisky – $19.99

 OBAN Single Malt Scotch Little Bay – $79.99

DATES TO REMEMBER

Wednesday, April 8th, 5:30pm – 7:30pm Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottle signing with Master Distiller Chris Morris

Saturday, April 11th, 3:00pm – 7:00pm American Born Moonshine Tasting

Saturday, April 25th, 3:00pm – 7:00pm Old Forester Mint Julep Tasting

Easter and Summer Store Hours: Easter Sunday, April 5th: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday hours beginning April 12th will be 11:00am – 9:00pm Monday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 12 – 8pm Thursday: 12 – 8pm Friday: 2 – 10pm Saturday: 2 – 10pm Sunday: Closed

Your Spiritual Advisors @ The Party Source Help yourself to our top shelf Everything but…the Guests!