Just Whisky – Auction LIVE!

Auction runs Friday 9th – Sunday 18th January. 

We welcome in the New Year with a great auction for everyone. Our January auction is packed with interesting bottles to bid on, like the new Macallan Reflexion, Port Ellen 13th Release, Springbank 40 Year Old Signatory Vintage, a smattering of Brora and a lot of Japanese bottles. We invite you to view the full selection on the website. 

Bidding will end on Sunday 18th January at 8PM. Don’t forget our proxy bid feature automatically bids up to the amount you set. Just set your maximum bid and let the system do the work for you.

We hope you all had a relaxing break over the festive period, and are refreshed and looking forward to what the new year brings. From all of us here, we wish you all the best over the coming 12 months. 

Graham, Yuri & Matteo

www.just-whisky.co.uk

The Jolly Toper Himself

WHISKY TASTING & DINNER

Importantly if anyone wants to come to the first whisky and food pairing night at the rather wonderful Caves I need to know by Thursday 15th January as the chef needs 7 days to order the ingredients so after this date it is very unlikely people can join.

3 course whisky dinner at The Caves Thursday 22.01.15 £60

5 drams from the new Cadenheads Release

Scottish Smoked Salmon & Caper Butter, Horseradish & Chive Crème Fraiche
or
Local Carrot, Ginger & Honey Soup, Herb Oil. (v)

Perthshire Beef Pie with Scottish Ale served with buttered mash and seasonal vegetables
or
Potato, Wild Mushroom & Crowdie Pave, Beetroot Puree.

Baked Orange & White Chocolate Cheesecake.

Contact the Jolly Toper HERE TO REGISTER or via mobile 0044 (0) 7757434694

www.jollytoper.com

Over 150 whiskies lined up for 2015 festival in Birmingham

• Whisky Birmingham 2015 set for 7 March 2015 at The Bond in Digbeth
• Festival doubled in size this year, going from 200 visitors in 2013, to 400 in 2014
• 600 tickets have now been released for the 2015 festival
• Leading whisky brands including Laphroaig, Buffalo Trace and Chivas Regal confirmed
• Whisky growing in popularity locally, driven by specialist shops and increased stocking in bars

England’s biggest whisky festival outside London will return for a third year in 2015, with over 150 whiskies to be exhibited by a host of distributors including Pernod Ricard and Maxxium.

Organisers have now released 600 tickets for the one-day event at The Bond on 7^th March, with over 100 tickets already snapped up in the Christmas gift-buying rush.

Whisky Birmingham 2015 will see whisky enthusiasts and novices gather to taste, try and buy from over 25 whisky brands and retailers at The Bond, a historic canalside venue in Digbeth.

This time the festival will grow to take over two exhibition spaces. Visitors will be able to sample over 150 whiskies from respected brands and distilleries, including Laphroaig, Buffalo Trace, Macallan and Chivas Regal.

Whisky Birmingham is the brainchild of Amy Seton, founder of the Birmingham Whisky Club. She explained the reason for expanding the event in 2015:

“ The festival has taken off brilliantly, and it’s thanks to the great reception Birmingham has given it. People are really interested in learning about whisky, exploring different drams and coming to have a relaxed time. The proof has really come in the run-up to Christmas – I’ve seen many more people buying tickets this year as gifts for whisky lovers.”

While Scotland may be the spirit’s traditional heartland, the festival will also play host to whisky from around the world, including Penderyn from Wales, and Paul John, distilled in India.

A series of whisky-matching masterclasses is due to be announced early next year. The 2014 festival saw local artisans pair whisky with chocolate, cheese and cigars.

A casual Beginner’s Guide session will provide whisky novices with an introduction to the drink, giving pointers on how to nose and taste a dram.

Birmingham’s whisky scene has seen something of a surge this year, with the launching of whisky collections by venues like The Plough, as well as the opening of Hard to Find Whisky, a specialist shop selling rare bottles costing up to £35,000.

Jason Kirby, founder of Hard To Find Whisky, thinks that whisky in Birmingham is on the up:

 “I decided to open Hard To Find Whisky here because there’s a growing demand for good quality whisky. Bars and pubs are stocking wider selections, and the city’s central location helps attract whisky lovers from around the country to discover the growing scene here.”

The Whisky Birmingham 2015 festival will take place on 7 March 2015 at The Bond. Tickets have been released and are available at the official website.

JANUARY EVENTS

New List Open Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Sat 10 Jan

Steak & Whisky Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Mon 12 Jan

The Ultimate 2014 Highlights Tasting, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Tue 13 Jan

New Members’ Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Tue 20 Jan

Rabbie Burns Tasting and Dinner, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Thu 22 Jan

Keswick Members Tasting, Middle Ruddings Country Inn, Keswick – Sat 24 Jan

Up Helly Aa, 19 Greville St, London – Tue 27 Jan

Aberdeen Preview Tasting, Caledonian Thistle Hotel, Aberdeen – Thu 29 Jan

Dunfermline Preview Tasting, Garvock House Hotel, Dunfermline – Fri 30 Jan

Glasgow Preview Tasting, Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow- Sat 31 Jan​

Browse All Tastings

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

Companions of the Quaich  

Thomas Chen & Barry Dunner

request the pleasure of your company

at a Companions of the Quaich

Whisky Tasting & Dinner

Monday, the 19th of January

two thousand and fifteen, at seven o’clock

Special Guest

Andrew Ferguson, Keeper of the Quaich

Springbank 15 • Springbank Local Barley 14

Springbank Madeira Finish• Longrow Sherry Cask 10 • Longrow Red Shiraz 11

Hazelburn Rundlets & Kilderkins 10

Whiskies • Dinner • Dessert

Sample six unique and limited quantity whiskies

sumptuously paired with a four-course meal

New Venue

Thai Cuisine By Montri

2585 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC

RSVP by January 9, 2014                                  Programme

Companions of the Quaich                        Reception: 6:45 pm

140-6751 Graybar Road,            Whisky tasting & dinner: 7:00 pm

Richmond, V6W 1H3                                    Casual attire

email info@vanquaich.com           Couvert: $95; $105: non-members

Seating limited to 25 participants

Companions of The Quaich is a non-profit society dedicated to sharing knowledge and enjoyment of Single Malt Whisky. A ‘Quaich’ is the traditional Scots drinking vessel for whisky. The name comes from the Gaelic ‘cuach’ which means ‘cup’. 

About Andrew Ferguson

Andrew has been employed at Kensington Wine Market since 2003, as its In-house Single Malt Scotch expert and co-manager. He has built KWM into Canada’s largest and arguably most interesting collection of single malts and has a reputation as one of Canada’s most trusted whisky experts.

In 2011, Andrew was inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich – an exclusive and secretive organization, recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the international success of Scotch whisky. He is the first Canadian retail expert to be so honoured!

In addition, Andrew writes a newsletter, The Malt Messenger, with almost 5,000 subscribers; conducts regular tastings; offers educational classes, seminars and speaking engagements. Andrew also guides whisky related tours to Scotland via www.fergusonswhiskytours.com. Andrew is the President of the ‘Companions of the Quaich’ Calgary Chapter.

A native of Calgary, Andrew studied Military History at the University of Calgary. He spends much of his free time outdoors, and is especially fond of skiing, hockey, mountain biking and triathlons. In October 2010 he qualified for and competed in the Xterra (offroad triathlon) World Championships in Maui!

JANUARY

New List Open Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Sat 10 Jan

Steak & Whisky Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Mon 12 Jan

The Ultimate 2014 Highlights Tasting, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Tue 13 Jan

Rabbie Burns Tasting and Dinner, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Thu 22 Jan

Keswick Members Tasting, Middle Ruddings Country Inn, Keswick – Sat 24 Jan

Burns Night at The Vaults, The Vaults, Leith – Sat 24 Jan

Robbie Burns Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Sat 24 Jan

​​Browse All Tastings >

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

Scotch Tasting

Sunday, January 4 @ 4 pm

$50 per person

This will be a great tasting, Pat is very excited because he is pulling out all the new stuff we’ve gotten in the last few weeks and he wants your input on the next 6 months of tastings! He wants to make you happy so please come to this tasting and let him know what you want in the next few months!! I saw the list and it looks pretty good! (Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso, Glenfarclas 10 yr., Glenmorangie Taghta, Laphroaig Select, Arran’s “The Devil’s Punch Bowl”, Yamazaki 18, Hibiki 17, Hakushu 17 and Cutty Sark Prohibition). Happy Holidays and hope to see you soon!

Dundee Dell | 5007 Underwood Ave | Omaha | NE | 68132

Thursday 8th January The Kilderkin, Royal Mile 7:30pm £25 or £28 for non-members:-

Macallan-Glenlivet 25yo Cadenheads 1989 – 10/14 Bourbon barrel 156 bottles 51.4%
– for a while it was quite unusual to find a non-sherry cask Macallan but not no more, still, as the No.1 branded malt a dram at this age is not usually affordable so taking the chance to see what the fuss is about might not be a bad idea even if there isn’t any of the the Spanish accent.

Arran bottled for The Glasgow Whisky Club Sherry hogshead 2001/098 13yo 28/05/01 – 06/11/14 336 bottles 54.7%
– for me Arran punches above its weight and is a good example of how important it is in business to have a clearly defined destination and a solid and realistic plan of how to get there. The fact that GWC were able to choose this type of quality doesn’t surprise.

Littlemill 21yo Batch 2 47.2% (I think that’s roughly the strength anyway)
– maybe not quite as good as some of the recent IB bottlings but still very nice and way better than the low points of the distillery’s past reputation. Now is a good time to try closed distilleries – the prices are only going up and as fewer casks exist surely the chances of good bottlings will become less likely.

Big Peat Christmas Special Islay blended malt 55.7%
– a customer let me taste this and I was impressed plus there doesn’t seem to be so many good and affordable peaty drams at the moment, just like sherry monsters seemed to have been all but hunted into extinction.

A mystery dram
– the usual fun will be had trying to guess whisky type/age/strength/price. Cruel I know but whatyagonnado?

http://www.jollytoper.com

Announcing the Spring Midlands Whisky Festival –  Friday & Saturday March 27th/28th 2015 England’s largest Whisky Festival outside London Held at Stourbridge Town Hall DY8 1YE

We’re holding the Festival on Saturday during the day as usual, PLUS adding a special Friday evening session.

You’ll have the choice of attending either or both the Friday evening and Saturday daytime event – the Friday session will have a slightly different feel to it with different and added attractions!

Your ticket options are:

Friday 27th March

Tickets are £30.00 (or £25.00 if you are also attending the Saturday event) Entrance at 6.00 pm

+ All drams on taste free inside venue (last pour 9.00 pm)  Festival

+ tasting glass Free Masterclasses (prior registration required)

Saturday 28th March

Standard tickets are £40.00 (£65.00 to include Friday’s session) Entrance at 12 o’clock

+ All drams on taste free inside venue (last pour 4.30 pm) Festival

+ tasting glass

Free Masterclasses (prior registration required) 

Premium Tickets are £75.00 (£100.00 to include Friday’s session) Entrance 10.45 am (1hr 15min VIP time)

+ Premium Masterclass

+ Dream Dram Tokens x 2 + Complimentary canapes All drams on taste free

+ inside venue (last pour 4.30 pm) Festival tasting glass

Devotee tickets are £150.00 (£175.00 to include Friday’s session) Entrance 10.45 am (1hr 15min VIP time)

+ Devotee Masterclass

+ Dream Dram Tokens x 2 + Complimentary canapes All drams on taste free

+ inside venue (last pour 4.30 pm)

+ £10 food voucher

+ Crystal Glencairn Festival glass

+ Selection of Dream Dram samples to take away.

Further details & tickets on http://www.whiskyfest.co.uk/

Ticket hotline 0333 666 3366

(A telephone service fee flat rate of £1.50 is charged if booking by phone.  No Additional booking fees will apply.)