Springbank Society Newsletter

September 2014

I hope you have all had a great Summer and the weather has been kind to you wherever you are. We were very lucky here in Campbeltown with some beautiful weeks of sunshine and it’s with weather like that we all really appreciate the amazing beaches and scenery we have on our doorstep. There has been an increased number of visitors around the town this Summer and it’s a great sight to see.

NEW SPRINGBANK WEBSITE

I’m extremely excited to tell you that we are now in the first stages of having a brand new, 21st century approved website designed for us! If you have visited our current website I’m sure you will agree that it is a little out of date and in need of a modern make over. Glasgow-based Graphic Design Agency, Made Brave will be designing the fresh new website for us and with a number of high end clients under their belt, we are confident they will be able to deliver a website which will reflect the quality of our products.

Andrew and Martin from Made Brave visited us at the weekend and spent two days shooting different parts of the distillery. From just glancing at a few of the creative shots they took, we know we are in safe hands with them. We hope to have the website up and running before the end of this year so I will keep you posted on the progress – I can’t wait to see how it looks!

CAMPBELTOWN MALTS FESTIVAL 2015

Following the success of The Campbeltown Malts Festival 2014, where Campbeltown’s three distilleries worked together to create a 3 day whisky festival, I am pleased to say that the dates for next year have been confirmed. Once again Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia will team up and will hold the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2015 from Wednesday 20th-Friday 22nd May. Like previous years, the Springbank Open Day will fall on the Thursday (21st) with a variety of other events happening on the Wednesday (20th) and Friday (22nd). As always, we have already been thinking of ways to make it bigger and better than the last and we would love your ideas on how you think we could do this! If you have any suggestions on things you would like to see or anything you think could work better then please so share! We would love to hear any feedback you have, although please don’t be too harsh as I may take it personally!

WHISKY SCHOOL DATES 2015

The dates for the Springbank Whisky School 2015 have now been announced and spaces are filling up quickly. For all our new members who maybe haven’t heard of it before, we started the Whisky School in 2007 and it’s where we offer enthusiasts the chance to come and work in the distillery for a week long ‘course’. During the week they will gain knowledge and experience in all stages of the whisky making process including malting, mashing, distilling and bottling as well as gaining some well earned ‘tasting’ experience!!

The dates for next year are:

Term 1: ” Week commencing Monday 18th May 2015

Term 2: ” Week commencing Monday 25th May 2015

Term 3: ” Week commencing Monday 1st June 2015

Term 4: ” Week commencing Monday 8th June 2015

Term 5: ” Week commencing Monday 15th June 2015

Term 6: ” Week commencing Monday 22nd June 2015

Term 7: ” Week commencing Monday 29th June 2015

To find out prices, availability or get some more information, please email Janet at whiskyschool@springbankwhisky.com.

DISTILLERY & SALES TEAM NEWS

We have been very busy at the distillery this Summer with both our day-to-day shop tours and Sales Team visitors. Visitor numbers during the Summer months have seen a steady increase from last year and it’s great to see so many people coming all the way to Campbeltown to visit us.

At the distillery, we are currently in the 5th week of malting which will take us up until Friday 31st October. After this, the guys will head up to Glengyle Distillery where they will start mashing on Wednesday 5th November until we break up for the Christmas holidays.

The Autumn and Winter months are always a busy time for the Sales Team who will be out and about at various shows around the world. Ranald, Melanie, David and Grant have their calendars full for the next few months meaning it will be a very quiet (and peaceful!) office for the rest of us!

I am also very excited to be working my first ever show at the beginning of October! I’m finally being trusted on a trip away and will travel down to London along with David and Grant for the Whisky Exchange Whisky Show which takes place on the first weekend of October. I will hopefully be able to bring a sample of the new Society bottling (due out in October) with me so I hope to see some of you there!

UPCOMING RELEASES & INFORMATION ON CURRENT BOTTLINGS

We have recently bottled two new releases which will be hitting shops this week.

The first bottling is the third in the series of Longrow Red. You may remember in 2012 we released Longrow Red which was matured in Cabernet Sauvignon Casks and in 2013 we released a version which was matured in Shiraz Casks. The 2014 edition has been matured in Fresh Port Casks and is magnificent! It is 11 years old and bottled at 51.8% with 9,000 bottles available for worldwide distribution. The price for this is £55.00 and as a Society Member, you will get your 10% member discount, meaning it will cost you £49.50.

The tasting notes for the new Longrow Red are as follows:

Nose: Beautiful sweet fresh summer fruits. Creamy with a hint of peat and classic cigar box notes.

Palate: Very smooth and elegant, particularly for an 11 year old. Good peat influence with the port casks providing lots of juicy current notes: Lingonberries!

Finish: A soft oaty creaminess provokes thoughts of brie and cranberry on oatcakes. Long and sweet.

The second new release this week is the Hazelburn 10 year old which will join the Hazelburn 12 to make up the two core products in the Hazelburn range. The 10 year old is bottled at 46% and is made up of 100% bourbon casks. This will retail at £38.00 and members will of course get their 10% discount on this bottle making it £34.20. The tasting notes for this are:

Nose: Stewed pears and baked apples are followed by honeycomb and fudge notes.

Palate: A lovely and rich whisky with vanilla and honey flavours. Liquorice follows with a refreshing zestiness.

Finish: A refined milk chocolate cream finish which is oily and chewy.

We will be releasing another three exciting bottlings in October/November, including a new Society bottling, so as soon as I have more information on these I will send you all the details!

Earlier this year, we re-designed the packaging for the Longrow 18 year old so that it fitted in with the other products in the Longrow range. Now our Springbank 18 year old has also been given a make over with a more  striking colour of purple being used on the label and packaging. The whisky is of course the same – it’s just been given a new look!

Over the past two years, prices at Springbank have only increased in line with duty. Unfortunately with increased production costs (water, oil, electricity, barley and casks are all more expensive than previously), it’s necessary to update our current retail price list. The 10 core products in our range along with their updated prices are listed below:

• Hazelburn 10yo: ” £38.00 (-10% Society discount) = £34.20

• Hazelburn 12yo: ” £50.00 (-10% Society discount) = £45.00

• Springbank 10yo: ” £38.00 (-10% Society discount) = £34.20

• Springbank 12yo: ” £47.00 (-10% Society discount) = £42.30

• Springbank 15yo: ” £53.50 (-10% Society discount) = £48.15

• Springbank 18yo: ” £78.00 (-10% Society discount) = £70.20

• Springbank 21yo: ” £180.00 (-£10.00 for Society Members) = £170.00

• Longrow: ” ” £38.00 (-10% Society discount) = £34.20

• Longrow Red: ” £55.00 (-10% Society discount) = £49.50

• Longrow 18yo: ” £84.50 (-10% Society discount) = £76.05

SHIPPING OUT-WITH THE UK

In the last newsletter, I told you that we had found a new shipping company who are able to ship worldwide for us. The service seems to working very well for almost all countries and we have had some very happy customers who have been impressed by the quick and easy service which has been provided. The main problem we have experienced is when trying to send to some states within the USA, as due to strict laws on importing, they have not been allowed into the state. At the moment we are having problems shipping to the following states:

• California

• Illinois

• Missouri

• North Carolina

• New York

• Oregon

• Pennsylvania

• Washington

• Texas

We are currently working on a way round this problem but unfortunately until we find a resolution we will not be able to ship to the above 9 states. If you live in a state which is not listed then it should be possible to get bottles shipped to you. If anyone would like another copy of the shipping prices for different countries then please let me know and I can get this emailed over to you.

Anyway, I think that is all the news I have at the moment so thank you for reading and I will be in touch in the next few weeks with news of the upcoming bottlings.

Slainte,

Mairi

For the Springbank Society

 To join the Springbank Society please contact them at society@springbankwhisky.com

Just Whisky’s 10th Whisky Auction is now LIVE. The auction continues to grow and this month is no exception. Bidding will end on Sunday 21st September 8PM. 

Happy Bidding! 

http://www.just-whisky.co.uk/

WHISKY & WILD GAME MATCHING TASTINGS

The Gamekeepers Pantry at The Vaults
The finest produce from the countryside, forests and coastlines of Scotland: several mouth-watering dishes which our ambassador will pair with two single cask whiskies and two foraged craft ales…
Fri 12 September, 7-9.30pm BUY

Game Dinner in The Dining Room
Game is quite possibly the best that autumn has to offer to Scotland. James Freeman and team will craft a fantastic 5 course taster menu, matched by a Society Ambassador to your choice of whisky or wine…
Thu 18 September, 7-10.30pm BUY

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

Calling Yorkshire’s Whisky Lovers!

You know who you are!
You know where you need to be this Saturday!

We are bringing whisky to the people of Yorkshire in a big way in the beautiful setting of York Racecourse. We have the 1st floor of the famous Ebor Stand ready to roll and – as is the tradition – the great and the good from the whisky world will be there to tempt you with their wares.

Along with festival regulars such as Inverhouse Distillers, Diageo, Chivas Brothers, Macallan and Berry Brothers, we also have new faces and old favourites returning such as Springbank, Paul John and Douglas Laing.

As always, for the price of a few pints of mediocre beer and a packet of pork scratchings, you can instead be tasting dozens of top quality single malts, bourbons, premium blends and even cognacs.

Your £30 advanced full-day ticket gets you access to the show from 12pm* and all of your drams – aside from ‘Under the Counter’ drams, for which we get you started with 2 white tokens – plus a free Glencairn Whisky Tasting Glass, festival guide and small bottle of water.

We also have an advanced half-day ticket at £20 for those who would like to ‘dip their toes in’ as well as a free ‘Beginner’s Guide to Whisky’ class for those uninitiated amongst us.

The festival finishes at 5pm (last pour at 4.45pm) and you leave with a smile on your face having made new friends and tasted true nectar of the gods!

To book, simply click here for the full-day ticket or here for the half-day ticket.

We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Sláinte,
Eddie, Amanda and Joe
The Whisky Lounge Team

*doors open at 12pm. Not everyone will get in at exactly 12pm!

Glenmorangie Tasting

It’s an exciting month for us at Milroy’s of Soho. Not only do we have the launch of our new bottling range (more on that soon) but we also have a fantastic whisky tastings coming up; Scotch pioneers Glenmorangie!

The final cherry on the cake is that the tasting is completely free-of-charge. Please respond here to reserve one of the limited number of spaces.

The tasting is hosted in our cellar tasting room and are accompanied by expert tutors from the host distiller.

Monday 15th September 2014
6:30pm – 8:30pm

Glenmorangie are the world famous Scotch Whisky distillers from Tain. As well as producing the ubiquitous Glenmorangie Original, they have also developed “cask finishing” to an art form. Names such as Quinta Ruban and Nectar D’or are now synonymous with cask-finished whisky – combining quality and flavour in equal quantities.

All the best,

Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, England W1D 4NX
United Kingdom

Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival 2014 

Dufftown 2000 Ltd will again be arranging the 17th Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival from 25 to 29 September 2014.

The festival will start with the Mates of the Whisky Museum event on Thursday evening in the Memorial Hall. 

Friday there’s the Stramash & Dance in the Memorial Hall from 8pm onwards. 

Gordon Haughton will host the famous “Seven Stills Tour” that visits all of Dufftown’s distilleries past and present on a single trip with a dram at each; This is definitely not a bus tour for the faint hearted! The Seven Stills Bus Tour will depart the Square as usual at 12 noon on Saturday. 

Also in the Memorial Hall on Saturday and Sunday there is the Craft Fair. 

In the Commercial Hotel Hall on Sunday afternoon at 3pm we’ll be holding our annual Whisky Auction where a fine selection of whiskies will go under the hammer. 

On Monday, for the more energetic, is “The Dramble”, taking in all the 7 distlleries on foot with drams on-the-way. 

During the festival, whisky connoisseurs will be able to tour and taste an incredible array of fine single malts from a number of the Speyside Distilleries. 

The Dufftown pipe band will be playing on The Square from 11:30am ~ 12:30pm on Saturday. 

The best of Scotland’s culture will be on show alongside the celebration of its national drink. 

We will also be arranging our usual complement of bus tours to the distilleries not normally open to the public on each day of the festival. 

For more information and the full programme visit http://www.whisky.dufftown.co.uk/events.php

Penderyn & Brown’s Hotel Special Offer

2014 is the centenary of Wales’s most famous writer, Dylan Thomas. To celebrate Penderyn Distillery and Brown’s Hotel Laugharne (Dylan’s favourite pub and now a tastefully refurbished ‘pub with rooms’) have partnered up to bring you this special offer that brings together three elements – liquor, literature & Laugharne:

• A two-night B&B midweek break* in Brown’s for two people

• A Penderyn masterclass on the first night hosted by Brown’s Hotel resident expert, Sam Cowlam

• A guided tour around Laugharne with Brown’s Hotel manager, Jon Tregenna, an expert on local history

• A two-course evening meal from Brown’s Hotel tasty ‘bar meals’ menu

The two-night break is for a Monday & Tuesday night, or a Wednesday & Thursday night, and costs just £225 (usual price £338**).

Full details can be found on Brown’s website

All enquiries to Brown’s Hotel on 01994-427-688 between 8am and 4pm,
or email: info@browns-hotel.co.uk.

*All rooms subject to availability. **Normal price of two midweek rooms based on two people sharing is £190. A two course bar meal can cost up to £14 per person. A Whisky Masterclass at Penderyn Distillery is £45 per head, and a 90 minute guided tour of Laugharne £15 per head.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

New List Open Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Sat 6 Sept
Steak & Whisky Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Mon 8 Sept
The Gamekeeper’s Pantry Tasting, The Vaults, Leith – Fri 12 Sept
Game Dinner in The Dining Room, 28 Queen St, Edinburgh – Thu 18 Sept
York Members Tasting, Bedern Hall, York – Fri 19 Sept
Dunfermline Members Tasting, Garvock House Hotel, Dunfermline – Thu 25 Sept
Liverpool Members Tasting, Malmaison, Liverpool – Fri 26 Sept
Glasgow Members Tasting, Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow – Fri 26 Sept
Newcastle Members Tasting, The Caledonian Hotel, Newcastle – Fri 26 Sept
Guildford Members Tasting, Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel, Guildford – Fri 26 Sept
Winchester Members Tasting, Winchester Royal Hotel, Winchester – Fri 26 Sept
New Members Tasting, 19 Greville St, London – Tue 30 Sept

Browse all events

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

SUNTORY WHISKY TASTING – WEDNESDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2014

We have been very remiss as it’s several years since we last held a Japanese whisky tasting and so we are delighted that on Wednesday 15th October Zoran Peric, UK brand ambassador, has kindly agreed to come along and present some whiskies from the Suntory range.

Suntory have two distilleries – Yamazaki (founded in 1923) and Hakushu – from which they produce a range of single malts and blended whiskies, and whilst the basic method of whisky making is similar in Japan to Scotland the Suntory distilleries have some fascinating variations in production. For example, at the Yamazaki distillery they have 6 different types of pot still and use many types of barrels – including some made from Japanese Mizunara wood. These type of variations, along with a mild climate, result in a distinctive style of fragrant and elegant whisky – with the addition in the case of Hakushu of a subtle smokiness, as it is lightly peated.

The winning combination of Zoran’s flair for presenting and the delightful Japanese whiskies mean that these tastings have proved extremely popular in the past so there is sure to be strong demand for the tickets.

Tickets for the Suntory whisky tasting will be available to buy from 1pm on Wednesday 3rd September and no bookings will be taken before this time. Also, please be aware that the maximum number of people that we can seat together at one table is 6.

See below for all the details and if you have any queries just contact us.

Sláinte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

UPCOMING EVENT

Name Suntory Japanese Whisky Tasting
Date Wednesday 15th October 2014

Time 7.00 for 7.30pm
Venue Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren

Details Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared. Tickets are £15 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting.

Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Arkwrights reserve the right to restrict the number of tickets per customer and as these tastings usually sell out within hours it is best to book as soon as the tickets are released. To buy tickets just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com from 1pm on Wednesday 3rd September and place an order for the number you require.

Please note, we cannot accept provisional bookings and payment must be made when booking. Refunds for tickets are not available except in exceptional circumstances. N.B. We have negotiated special rates at the hotel for anyone who wants to stay overnight after the tasting – click here for further details.

We are now live, folks. Enjoy.

The 41st Auction  (Ends September 7th)

Kind Regards from Glasgow 

The SWA Team