Vancouver Island Members of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. 

Our premier FIRST FRIDAY tasting is just one week away. You will shortly receive the official mailing with the January Outturn from the Canadian Branch of the SMWS, but in the meantime, here are the details;

Date:                           Friday January 4^th, 2013.

Time:                          6:00pm.

Location:                    The Strath Ale Wine & Spirit Merchants, 919 Douglas Street, Victoria.

Price:                          $40 for Members, $50 for Non-Members.

Registration:            Please drop in to the store to purchase a ticket or call me to have your name on the list with a “virtual” ticket. Space is limited so you need to register to secure your place and to assist us in set up and catering.

Guests:                      Non-Members and Guests are most welcome.

NOTE:  Please remember these are cask strength whiskies, so you should not be driving home after the tasting.

The event will follow the traditional Society format with a formal sit down tasting of the seven new Outturns for the month.  We will provide some appropriate food nibbles to assist your palate.

We will also have a few bottles of previous releases (Oct, Nov, Dec) available at the tasting for those who may have missed out before.

All releases including the new January ones are available for purchase on the night, on a first come first served basis.  Every member will be given a chance to buy a bottle of any available whisky before someone else can purchase 2 or more.  Any non-member who joins the Society on the night may also order product.

New members who have not as yet picked up their Membership Kit, can do so at the same time.

As always, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Make sure to book your seat and I look forward to seeing you Friday.

Slainté!

Colin

The Spirits of Kingston Whisky Festival

by Sylvain Bouffard

We’ve all been solicited to give to Charities. Charitable organisations rely on fund raising events such as Galas, Dinners, Baked Goods Sales, Silent Auctions and etcetera. The Museum of Military Communications and Electronics is offering a refreshing change: a Whisky Festival! Why not try something new!!

Picture yourself in February 2013. Winter is lingering. The February Blues are bringing you down. Why not attend

The Spirits of Kingston Whisky Festival? Bring a friend. The Spirits of Kingston Whisky Festival.is also a great gift for that hard to buy for person.

On Saturday evening, February 23rd 2013, between 7 and 10 pm, the Museum will be transformed into a whisky exhibition hall and over twenty Vendors will be dispersed amidst the museum’s displays. With your compli-mentary crystal glass, especially designed for whisking tasting and imported from Scotland, stroll through the Museum and discover which eau de vie tickles your fancies: Scotch, Irish, Canadian or American whiskies.

The Spirits of Kingston Whisky Festival is proud to offer you, with your general admission, an opportunity to enjoy Light Finger Food, which will consist of a great selection of bite-sized dishes prepared by Cordon Bleu Chef, Justin Hazlett. Experience Whisky-Food pairing, where the flavours of the whiskies compliment the taste of the food and vice versa!

It is the perfect occasion for novices, and enthusiasts alike, to experiment and avoid having to purchase a bottle of undesirable whisky that will forever sit on a dusty book shelf. Connoisseurs will be able to appreciate the premium whiskies served in Master Classes and the presence of one of the only two Canadian coopers.

The Spirits of Kingston Whisky Festival promises to be a fantastic Night Out: Sample whiskies, visit a local Museum and support a local charity!

In the end, I very much look forward to share with the 300 ticket holders to The Spirits of Kingston Whisky Festival the passion and enthusiasm that I have towards discovering, learning, sampling and enjoying whiskies and whisky making. A passion which started several years ago, after my wife told me to get a hobby to lessen the stressors of a busy life. When I mentioned that I could join a Scotch Whisky Club, I was pleasantly surprised by her response that it sounded like a great idea. Little did I know then that my dabbling in Whisky would take me to so many places throughout Canada and introduce me to so many interesting people. As the saying goes “People who love Whiskies, love people who love Whiskies” and with good reason. There are just as many interesting and complex Whiskies as there are people. Each with their own unique blend of characteristics which when paired with a complimentary joie de vivre makes for a great friendship.

Please visit www.KingstonWhiskyFestival.com for additional information and tickets.

The Glenlivet to Host Whisky Festival Opening Dinner

With nearly 200 years of whisky making history behind it, The Glenlivet is unquestionably one of the most iconic distilleries in Speyside. This famous distillery has very kindly agreed to host the ‘Touch of Tartan’ opening dinner on Thursday, 2 May 2012 for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. This prestigious event will mark the start of the 14th festival and welcome visitors from around the globe to Speyside.

“This is an opportunity to showcase everything that makes Speyside special and in the year of Natural Scotland the Glen of Livet will provide a glorious backdrop for such a special event”, commented a delighted James Campbell, Festival Chairman.

‘We are extremely grateful to The Glenlivet for their generosity and know that our guests to the Opening dinner will be treated to the very best that Speyside and The Glenlivet has to offer”.

Alan Winchester, Master Distiller of The Glenlivet said: “We look forward to welcoming festival goers from all over the world to The Glenlivet Distillery which has been at the heart of Speyside whisky making since 1824. The festival is an amazing annual pilgrimage to this famous Scotch whisky homeland and there is no place better to start the experience than at The Glenlivet.”

Now in its 14th year the festival has gone from strength to strength, last year hosting over 28,500 visits to more than 320 events over the five days. The 2012 festival generated over £1.3 million to the local economy.

The dates for the 2013 festival are 2 – 6th May inclusive. For more information visit www.spiritofspeyside.com’

Notes

About The Glenlivet
The Glenlivet is the No 2 single malt Scotch whisky in the world. Crafted in the remote Livet Valley since 1824, it is the only whisky with the unchallengeable right to be called The Glenlivet. The Glenlivet is owned by Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, and the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin.

About The Spirit of Speyside Festival
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, 2 May – Monday, 6 May 2013. Check out www.spiritofspeyside.com’ target=’_blank’>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 needing to travel to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options including a taxi voucher scheme (sponsored by Diageo) providing festival goers with a 25% reduction on fares with participating operators, various pre-bookable dedicated bus shuttles and even a “Dram Line” off-road Argocat taxi for a day long distillery tour or Saturday night whisky-country-crawl.

The Festival also runs several competitions and awards including the prestigious Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards as well as the Benromach Spirit of Speyside Whisky Photographic Competition

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

About 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, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org.

About the Year of Natural Scotland 2013
Year of Natural Scotland 2013, the third of four focus years, is a chance to highlight Scotland’s great natural assets. It provides an opportunity to celebrate our reputation as a land of outstanding beauty, and encourage responsible tourism in Scotland. The aim of Year of Natural Scotland 2013 is to promote Scotland’s stunning natural beauty and biodiversity, and promote ways in which visitors can enjoy our beautiful landscapes, wildlife and heritage responsibly. More information about the programme can be found at: www.visitscotland.org.uk The Year of Natural Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.

For more information please contact:
Mary Hemsworth
Festival Manager
07789 671635 or 07795632733

WHISKY TASTINGS

at The Kilderkin, 65/67 Canongate, Royal Mile, 7.30pm, www.jollytopertastings.co.uk

Thursday 27.12.12 P/O/U/R/S 7.30pm at The Kilderkin, 65/67 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, £20/17*

Private Cask Caol Ila 12yo 3.11.00 – 5.11.12 205 bottles 55.5%
St. Magdalene 30yo 1982 – 10.12 butt 192 bottles 55.4% Cadenheads
Benrinnes 16yo 1996 – 07.12 Bourbon hogshead 53.2% Cadenheads
Benriach 20yo 54% Sauternes cask
Something unusual

30.12.12 3pm 5 drams from bottles that all cost over £100 tickets: £35/32* at The  Kilderkin Royal Mile

Hibiki 21yo 43%
Something peaty
George T. Stagg 71.3%
Glen Grant 37yo 1974 – 2012 47.8% Berry Brothers and Rudd
Saint Magdalene 28yo 5.10.1982 – 02.2011 57.3% Mackillop’s Choice

P/O/U/R/S Thursday 10.1.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S Friday 25.1.13 £20/17*

THEME Thursday 7.2.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S Thursday 21.2.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S Thursday 7.3.13 £20/17*

THEME Thursday 21.3.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S Friday 5.4.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S Thursday 18.4.13 £20/17*

THEME Thursday 2.5.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S Thursday 16.5.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S Thursday 30.5.13 £20/17*

THEME Thursday 13.6.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S Thursday 27.6.13 £20/17*

P/O/U/R/S = Peaty, Old, Unusual, Rare, Sherry cask, *£3 off for first timers and members Entry by pre-paid ticket only

www.jollytopertastings.co.uk

Midlands Whisky Festival Ticket – Saturday 13th April 2013

Buy 6 at £33.25 save 5% Buy 12 at £31.50 save 10% £35.00 inc VAT
Saturday 13th April sees our 3rd Midlands Festival, bringing distillers and customers together for a blether, a laugh and a taste or two!

Venue: Stourbridge Town Hall, Market Street Stourbridge DY8 1YE

A ticket gives you:
All samples at the festival free (over 200 whiskies)
A Glencairn Festival Glass
Dream Dram Token – to exchange for one rare and exotic whisky
Discount Vouchers – to spend on whiskies on taste at the festival shop or at Nickolls & Perks shop on the day
Please select “Collection from our Stourbridge Shop” when ordering – this will avoid any delivery charges.

Midlands Whisky Festival Premium Ticket Sat 13th April 2013

– Limited to three tickets per person – £60.00 inc VAT

A premium ticket for the 2013 Whisky Festival at Stourbridge Town Hall gets you a guaranteed place on the the Macallan 1824 Series Masterclass and a chance to get into the fesitval an hour early in order have a leisurely preview (and sample!) of the stalls.

The Macallan 1824 Series will include Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby bottlings.
Premium ticket also includes everything that a standard ticket gives you:
All samples at the festival free (over 200 whiskies)
A Glencairn Festival Glass
Dream Dram Token – to exchange for one rare and exotic whisky
Discount Vouchers – to spend on whiskies on taste at the festival shop or at Nickolls & Perks shop on the day

Glengoyne Whisky Tasting – Thursday 17th January

Alan Wardrop, UK Sales Manager for Ian Macleod Distiller’s, will be joining us for a night with the Glengoyne range. Glengoyne 21 year old has scooped a prestigious gold award at the highly respected Scottish Field Whisky Challenge for the third year in a row underlining its consistent, exceptional quality.

7.30pm start at our cellars on Thursday 17th January 2013.

£25.00 inc VAT

A quick note of note from Colin Southcombe General Manager The Strath Ale Wine & Spirit Merchants located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada;

Vancouver Island Based Members of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

I am pleased to announce that I now have bottles of the December Outturn available for tasting.  Unfortunately we weren’t able to present these in the soon to be regular “First Friday” format.  However we wanted you to have the opportunity to taste these fabulous new whiskies;  you should all have received a copy of the December Outturn by email from our Canada headquarters.

You are invited to attend an informal stand-up tasting in the store next Saturday December 15^th between 3:00pm to 6:00pm.  I will be pouring all seven of the December Outturn and thanks to generous subsidizing by the Society, I am offering this for a nominal $10 per member and $15 for non-members.  If anyone wants to check out any of the remaining October and November releases, you are most welcome to do that too.

Just drop in any time between 3:00pm and 6:00pm.  No ticket is required, just pay at the door, but don’t miss out.  If you can let me know you are coming, that would help.

New members who have not as yet picked up their Membership Kit, can do so at the same time.  Anyone joining the Society at the time, becomes instantly eligible to purchase any Society whiskies.  Gift memberships can also be purchased and we have the kits here, so there is no delay.

As always, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Slainté!

Colin Southcombe General Manager The Strath Ale Wine & Spirit Merchants 919 Douglas Street, Victoria BC, V8W 2C2 Tel: 250-370-9463 Email: whisky@strathconahotel.com

Email the Society in Canada at curious@smws.ca for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers. Bottlings are currently available in Alberta (via Kensington Wine Mart Calgary) and in British Columbia (via The Strath Ale, Wine & Spirit Merchants Victoria and Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales, Vancouver).

December Tasting of Virginia Highland Malt Begin

Here’s where you can taste Virginia Highland Malt Whisky this weekend in DC. And, BTW, wouldn’t it be the PERFECT holiday gift????

Friday December 7th 5-8pm at Sherry’s Wine and Spirit (2627 Connecticut Ave NW, near intersection of Connecticut Ave. and Calvert St.)

Saturday December 8th 2-5pm at Batch 13 (1724 14th St NW, between U St. and Logan Circle)

Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six 

Miner’s Delight Inn, 2nd Saturday, monthly, 6 – 9 p.m.

Here’s what you get for $25:

       ♦ 5 half-ounce pours of single malt Scotch whisky:

        ♦♦ 3 Saturday features, including a Saturday Night Special *

        ♦♦ Roll a die and pick a whisky from 1 of 6 Scotch regions

        ♦♦ Pick your Connoisseur’s Choice from our single malt menu

       ♦ Hors d’oeuvres to cleanse your palate between pours

Saturday Features:

*10% off bottles of the Saturday Night Special

December 8, 2012   

 Glenglassaugh Revival *

 anCnoc Peter Arkle

 Kilchoman 2006

January 12, 2012   

 Aberlour a’Bunadh *

 Balvenie 12 Signature

 Imperial 15

February 9, 2012   

 Craigellachie 13 *

 Kilkerran Work in Progress

 Ardbeg 10

http://www.minersdelightinn.com