Let’s hear it for the girls – Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival declares International Women of Whisky Day 

Whisky lovers around the world are being asked to raise a dram to the women who are shaking up the industry and breaking into the boys’ club. 

The first ever International Women of Whisky Day has been declared on May 3 to recognise the growing number of women working in the industry and sipping Scotland’s national drink. 

The global day of celebration has been organised by the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which is doing its bit by hosting a number of events with some of the most influential women in the business. 

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival chairman James Campbell hopes that whisky drinkers will mark the day no matter where they are in the world. 

Mr Campbell adds, “The perception of whisky being a man’s drink has been completely altered over the past decade – it’s now estimated that nearly one-third of whisky drinkers in the UK alone are female. 

“We are also seeing a growing number of women taking on key roles in the industry, from production managers to brand ambassadors. Women are now hugely influential and we felt it was about time that we celebrated the contribution they are making. 

“It seems fitting that Speyside should be the focus for the very first International Women in Whisky Day, since it is home to Cardhu which was founded by Helen Cumming in 1824. To this day it is still the only malt whisky distillery pioneered by a woman.” 

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place in Scotland’s most prolific whisky producing region from May 1 to 5, and will host a day-long programme led by women on May 3. It takes place at The Aberlour Hotel in Aberlour and will be complemented by other events led by women during the five day Festival. 

The day kicks off with Introduction to the Sensipedia of Whisky with Johanne McInnis, a Canadian whisky writer and judge known as Whisky Lassie. She will be teaching people how to use all five senses to appreciate and enjoy Scotch. 

Alwynne

Another Canadian – Alwynne Gwilt – will be leading a whisky and chocolate pairing session. Alwynne – also known as Miss Whisky and now based in London – is the current Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival International Ambassador of the Year in recognition of her efforts to educate people about Scotch whisky. 

Renowned whisky writer Annabel Meikle will be shedding light on tasting notes by exploring the language of whisky, explaining where the aromas come from. Participants will then be tasked with creating their own tasting note after a blind taste test. In addition to writing about whisky, Annabel has her own consultancy, The Whisky Belle. 

Master blender Angela D’Orazio from Mackmyra Distillery in Sweden will be introducing revellers to the unique whisky expression at her event. She will be sharing the story behind the distillery, and will be sharing some of the Mackmyra drams.

Anne

 Ann Miller is international brand ambassador for Chivas Brothers and is also one of the directors of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. She will contributing to the programme by running a guided walk – the James Fleming Trail – looking at the story of the man who founded Aberlour Distillery, and a tasting which deconstructs Aberlour’s double cask maturation. 

She says, “International Women of Whisky Day is a fantastic way to recognise the contribution made to the industry by women not just in Scotland but all over the world. 

“It will also help to underline the opportunities that exist to develop a career in the whisky industry, which is no longer the once male-dominated place that it used to be. It is essential that we encourage new blood – whether female or male – into the Scotch whisky industry to ensure it continues to go from strength to strength. 

“The programme taking place at Aberlour is one of the most anticipated events of the Festival – each of the women participating is an authority of whisky in her own right and although these events are hosted by women, they are not just for women, but for everyone.” 

“The inspiration for this day came in part from the enormous influence of whisky writer and expert Martine Nouet, who has been a regular participant of the Festival for over a decade. She has led a range of not to be missed events over many years and this year Martine will host a number of events at Glen Rothes Distillery.” 

A Twitter hashtag has been set up for International Women of Whisky Day – #IWOWD. There are events led by women taking place throughout the Festival, including distillery tours and whisky tutoring. 

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which is now in its 15^th year, takes place at venues across the region and boasts a programme of over 30 events. A signature event for Homecoming 2014, it will start Whisky Month – a four week national celebration of Scotland’s world class food and drink. 

It will also launch a brand new event this year – The Spirit of Speyside Sessions – which aims to put to spotlight on the area’s traditional music heritage with concerts and ceilidhs being staged in venues closely linked to the whisky industry. 

Tickets for all events in the 2014 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme, including the roving judging sessions, can be bought via the website – www.spiritofspeyside.com The Festival is also active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter. 

Picture captions: 

Ann Miller: Chivas Brothers international brand ambassador for Chivas Brothers. 

Alwynne Gwilt: Miss Whisky – Canadian writer and whisky lover, Alwynne Gwilt.

Notes

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, 1 May – Monday, 5 May 2014.  Check out www.spiritofspeyside.com for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival  or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside

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

EventScotland: EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, 

Year of Homecoming Scotland

Scotland will welcome the world in the Year of Homecoming 2014- providing a year-long programme of events alongside the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games . The Year of Homecoming Scotland will run from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2014 throughout the length and breadth of the country.  Visitors from around the world are invited to join in a celebration of the nation’s food and drink, active pursuits, cultural heritage, nature and ancestral heritage. 

Homecoming Scotland 2014 is a Scottish Government initiative being led by EventScotland and VisitScotland, supported by numerous partners. To find out more visit www.homecomingscotland.com

Find out what wine and whisky can do for each other

April 14, 2014, Sidney Pier Hotel, 7:00 PM

“Wind Down With Wine-finished Whiskies”
A little bord-eaux-d with your whiskies? Why not explore a new terroir? Whisky distilleries are starting to stretch their legs and experimenting with what our favorite grape-blessed barrels can do. The whiskies are definitely rising to the occasion! Join us to nose and taste the results of this exciting blend of industries. This event will be led by an aficionado of fine wines and whiskies.

3 course dinner, 4 whiskies

Members $60 – Guests $70 – Designated Drivers (Dinner only) $50

Please RSVP by email
Payment prior to the event can be made by mailing a cheque payable to:

Sidney Peninsula Companions of the Quaich
502-5350 Sayward Hill Crescent, Victoria, B.C. V8Y 3H9

THE JURA WHISKY FESTIVAL IS ON THE HORIZON

The experiences that await you in our intersection of whisky, art and breathtaking scenery will create a multi-sensory escapade worth travelling for. Held on the Isle of Jura on the 28-29th May, the #JuraTastival is a celebration of our world-class whiskies. Will you be joining us for the tantalising ride?

We want our flavours to get under your skin, so you can let your taste-buds do the talking. It’s a taste revolution where you tell us exactly what you taste as you follow your nose and your palate on this unique exploratory adventure.

Join Master Distiller Richard Paterson for Dramming in the Dark – a surreal tasting of the Jura Festival Whisky held in pitch black. Or why not meet up with our Jura Ambassador’s Graham and Anthony as they guide you through a multi-dimensional sensory experience featuring our most popular whiskies. Let them tickle your taste buds and reveal to you the riot of sounds and colours in our whiskies. In short, you will experience whisky like never before.

If you’re a fan of explosive flavours , then book your space now!

We’ll also be offering free tours of our distillery throughout the two days and our Dramming Bar will be open throughout the festival.

And just because we know how ungetatable the island is, Garelochhead Coaches are offering free transport on the island from the port to the distillery.

Be part of this unique toast to the Jura way of life and put the dates in your diary.

You can purchase tickets here: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-jura-tastival-2014-tickets-9653996363

We’ll see you on the island!

Willie Cochrane and everybody at the Jura Distillery.

Become a Glen Garioch Drambassador!

Calling all whisky bloggers!

We are looking for 20 Glen Garioch Drambassadors who would like the opportunity to receive and review an exclusive new mystery dram, ahead of release! 

All you have to do to enter is click on the link below, and enter your details. Easy!

ENTER TODAY!

April Outtrun & Victoria Partner Bar News

PUT SOME SPRING IN YOUR STEP WITH THESE SEVEN NEW SIPPERS!

The April Outturn is now available. For full tasting notes and to purchase please visit http://www.smws.ca/.

Also, if you haven’t heard yet, we are thrilled to announce that Victoria’s Little Jumbo will be our newest Partner Bar, joining Fets Whisky Kitchen in Vancouver and Brasserie Kensington in Calgary!

An ever-changing range of Society bottles will be on the bar and available by the dram. Please join us on Monday, April 14th to celebrate this exciting new partnership: http://ow.ly/von7V

In the meantime, don’t be sheepish about settling into this month’s Outturn (which includes a new distillery for the Canadian branch):

Cask No. 9.73 Frighteningly easy to drink
16 years old; refill barrel; 57%
The nose has leather books, polished tables, tobacco and mint; with water – afternoon tea with delicious sweet treats. The palate combines dark chocolate, candied cherries and dates with sherbet, lemon cakes and flapjacks – frighteningly drinkable.

Cask No. 7.93 A complex cornucopia
11 years old; refill barrel; 57.6%
The multifarious nose has lemonade, pancakes, Golden syrup, Deep Heat and forests after the rain. The palate has chocolate chip cookies with ginger cake, chili, lemon, light wood and almond fingers.

Cask No. 77.28 Tropical nights
25 years old; new charred oak 2nd fill hogshead; 54.9%
Candlewax and scented wood; tropical fruits and flowers; toasted pineapple, dark chocolate, marzipan and coffee with cardamom seeds. Waxy and mouth-filling, with juicy fruits and chocolate truffles dusted with cocoa.

Cask No. G4.4 Enjoy some R & R
34 years old; refill hogshead; 47.4%
The nose has Caramel bars, toffee popcorn and freshly ground coffee beans; the taste is vanilla ice cream and lemon tart. With water citrus sorbet and a flavour of orange blossom and homemade shortbread – enjoy a bit of relaxing and reminiscing in the garden.

Cask No. 46.21 A ballerina in stilettos
11 years old; refill sherry butt; 60.9%
NEW DISTILLERY FOR THE CANADIAN BRANCH
The nose offers buttered popcorn, puff candy, toasted almonds, pot-pourri and Christmas essential oils – maple syrup, bacon, malt and wood with water. The chewy tasty palate has lemon zest, moist gingerbread, duck in orange sauce, syrup of figs, pepper and leather.

Cask No. 3.206 Dark and mysterious
15 years old; refill sherry butt; 56.9%
The nose is dark and complex – molasses, aniseed, dark toffee, tarmac, toast, tobacco, charred mackerel and oily boats; with water marmite, soy sauce and Demerara. The palate has ash, kippers, treacle toffee, honey-glazed ham, creme brulee, fireplaces, dark chocolate and liquorice.

Cask No. 29.139 Why do fools fall in love?
18 years old; refill barrel; 59.9%
Here we go – coal tar, charcoal, cinders, roast pork belly, and sea salted chips; the taste big, hot, ashy, embers and a well-cleaned hospital floor. With water pencil shavings, roast ham and taking an Elastoplast off with your teeth.

http://www.smws.ca/

Please join Dan Volway, Macallan Brand Ambassador, for a tasting of the Macallan 1824 Series. 

Friday, April 11^th  7:30pm –  in The Cellar at Bear Mountain Resort 

THE MACALLAN 1824 SERIES Rise to the occasion 

The Macallan is known worldwide for innovation – a defining characteristic that sets this distillery apart. Innovation is the driving force behind the distillery’s latest creation, The Macallan 1824 Series. A sophisticated collection of four unique expressions – Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby – that will redefine the way Scotch whisky is evaluated. The Macallan 1824 Series – 100% Sherry Casks, 100% Natural Colour, 100% Macallan 

For reservations, please contact 250-391-5224 or email Carmen.parry@westinbearmountain.com

$ 25.00 per person including taxes and gratuities

There’s an elephant in the room and we want to talk about it!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada is thrilled to announce a new Partner Bar in its portfolio!

Victoria’s “Little Jumbo” will join Calgary’s “Brasserie Kensington” and Vancouver’s “Fets Whisky Kitchen” as our newest ‘Society Spot’ where SMWS bottles are on the bar.

Little Jumbo will join an exclusive group of only 22 other Partner Bars around the world (the full list is here: http://ow.ly/uDke3 ) where whisky lovers can enjoy a unique range of single cask libations.

Please join Little Jumbo’s proprietor Shawn Soole and his amazing staff, along with Rob and Kelly Carpenter of SMWS Canada as we kick off this new partnership with an evening of 5 one-of-a-kind Society whiskies paired with 5 fantastic appetizers.

Monday, April 14th

8:00 – 9:30pm

$50.00

Little Jumbo
Down the Hall, 506 Fort Street, Victoria, BC
(778) 433-5535

Register here: http://ow.ly/uQiXf

Our Spring 2014 tasting schedule is now online and open for registration. We have an incredible lineup of tastings including Glendronach Batch 9 Dinner, The Speyside Whisky Trail and Blockbuster Single Malts with Hunter. There is also our biannual whisky festival, the Spring Single Malt Festival, Thursday June 12, it always sells out quickly, so don’t delay in booking your tickets. We have a couple of distillery specific events for Tomintoul/Glencadam Distilleries and Balvenie Distillery with their travelling brand ambassadors, and a very exciting special edition of our Last Samurai Japanese whisky tasting. I’m most jazzed about our Ancient Malts tasting on the 17th of June, the Four Decades Edition which will feature not just 30 and 40 year old whiskies, but also a 50 and 60 year olds too! These tastings begin April 17 with Whisky, Women & Chocolate, which given the proximity of the holiday, will likely have an Easter theme!

There are lots of fun events in our Spring 2014 schedule, which may be the best we’ve ever put together. But you don’t have to wait until then for a great tasting opportunity! Our Spring tasting schedule is detailed below, and can also be seen on our website’s In Store Tastings page.

Last but not least, there’s some info on the bottom of this Malt Messenger Bulletin which will be of interest to all you Ardbeg fanatics. Kindly at least scan the rest of the newsletter so you don’t miss any of the other juicy tidbits!

I hope this finds you well, and that you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin.

Slainte!

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

Kensington Wine Market Spring 2014 Tasting Schedule

Could this be our best spring lineup ever?

All of these tastings are now open for registration, online: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php , by phone: 403-283-8000 and in store.

1. Whisky, Women & Chocolate – Thursday April 17 – Gather your girlfriends for a pairing of everyone’s two favorite food groups, whisky and chocolate! Hint! There will definitely be an Easter theme! – $60
2. The Speyside Whisky Trail – Thursday April 24 – We’ll follow the River Spey as it winds past some of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries on this virtual tour. Along the way we’ll sample some of its finest whiskies! – $60
3. Classic Single Malts – Tuesday April 29 – 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
4. Blockbuster Single Malts – Tuesday May 13 – Join us for a sampling of some of our fastest moving single malts with KWM’s fastest mouth, our own Hunter Sullivan. Like these whiskies, this tasting is expected to sell out in a flash. – $40
5. Glencadam & Tomintoul Distilleries – Tuesday May 20 – We’ve put together a special lineup of 7 whiskies for our tasting with Bob Kyle of Rare Drams. There’s a trio of Tomintouls, including the stunning 1977, a pair of Glencadam, including the new 21 year and two even rarer treats! – $55
6. Balvenie with Elizabeth Havers – Thursday May 22 – Brand ambassador, Elizabeth Havers, will guide us through a tasting of whiskies from one of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries. – $30
7. Rare Malts – Tuesday June 3 – Only the rarest whiskies, those more than 20 years of age, or from closed distilleries are considered for this very special tasting. – $80
8. Spring Single Malt Festival – Thursday June 12 – Our famous biannual whisky festival may be limited to just 100 participants, but there will be just as many whiskies to sample in this festival style tasting. Warning! Tickets sell out very quickly. – $60
9. Glendronach Batch 9 Dinner – We’ll be cracking one bottle each of the nine Glendronach vintage single casks from Batch 9 for this dinner tasting at Buchanan’s Chop House. – $160
10. Ancient Malts: 4 Decades Edition – This tasting typically sees whiskies aged 30 to 40 years of age or more. This incarnation will feature not just 30 and 40 year old whiskies, but also a 50 and 60 year too! Only 1 session will be held! – $200
11. Last Samurai: Special Edition – Thursday June 26 – We have some real curiosities from the world of Japanese whisky in store. We could tell you more, but then honor would dictate that we’d have to commit seppuku! – $100

“Auriverdes” is the Ardbeg Day 2014 Bottling

And North Canada’s First Ardbeg Embassy is Taking Pre-Orders!

Keeping a whisky like Ardbeg’s annual Ardbeg Day bottling secret would be challenging enough, but with the distillery’s cult following and fanatical Ardbeg Committee members it is nigh on impossible. Some clever scotch anoraks in the US discovered that they could place a freedom of information request to discover the identity of whiskies coming to the US long before they actually arrive. Perhaps it is with this in mind that the distillery confirmed the 2014 bottling late last week as the Auriverdes, or Green & Gold. This is a clever nod to the distillery gold nectar and iconic green glass bottle, but also to the host country of this year’s Football(soccer) World Cup, Brazil.  

Kensington Wine Market will be hosting Ardbeg Day festivities on Ardbeg Day, May 31st. Details on those events will be announced in the next month or so. The Ardbeg Auriverdes will be available for sampling at the event, though the whisky proper is not expected to arrive in store until later in June with a target retail price of $125-30. We are taking pre-orders for June arrival!

Pre-Order Ardbeg Auriverdes

Ferguson Whisky Tours

Speyside Tour May 11-17 2014

Deadline to register is this Friday. Estimated price, $3500-4,000 per person.

• 7 days/6 nights
• Includes visits to the following distilleries some to be confirmed:
o Glengoyne
o Deanston
o Edradour and Signatory
o Glencadam
o Glen Garioch
o AnCnoc
o Glendronach
o Balvenie
o Cardhu
o BenRiach
o Gordon & MacPhail
o Benromach
o Tomatin
o And More.
• As always, we’ll wind up with a whisky dinner at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society
• Check out the website, or send an email to scotchguide@fergusonwhiskytours.com for more details.

• FergusonWhiskyTours.com

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

Kensington Wine Market
403-283-8000

During our first whisky sailing trip this year a certain number of places is still available:

Embarkation: Saturday May 17th 2014 from 14.00 hrs in Oban

Disembarkation: Saturday May 24th 2013 at 10.00 hrs in Troon 

For you a chance of a lifetime to come along and sail with us in Scotland ánd meet Masterblender Richard Paterson on board for a reduced price: 

EUR 750,- instead of EUR 895,- per person!! 

More information about the trip can be found here. For further questions please contact us by email or phone: + 31-10-4156600.

For online booking click here.

Welcome on board!

Kind regards,

HOLLANDS GLORIE

Liesbeth Wammes – de Graaf

Brigitte Beckers

5007 Underwood Ave, Omaha NE 68132 dundeedell.com 402.553.9501

April Events at the Dundee Dell!

We have an exciting month in April, we have many events to attend!

Scotch Tasting
Sunday, April 6 @ 4 p.m.
Chris and Amanda have been planning a great tasting for April. The girls really love Scotch and give a great tasting! $50 per person

Rye Whiskey Tasting
Sunday, April 13 @ 4 p.m.
Pat is very excited to give a Rye Whiskey Tasting. He picked his favorite 8 Rye Whiskies & is going to share all of his amazing knowledge with us! This tasting will be packed and I can’t wait!! $50 per person