*ISLE OF ARRAN DISTILLERY WHISKY TASTING– THURSDAY 21ST JULY 2011*

We’ve been waiting a long time for this tasting, since June 1995 in fact, when whisky production first started at the brand new Isle of Arran distillery.  This small, but perfectly formed, distillery is now approaching its sixteenth birthday and the time seemed ripe to invite a member of the Arran team along to take us through a selection of both their core range and some limited editions so on Thursday 21st July Andrew Hogan will be here to do just that.

Situated in a carefully chosen (and beautiful) location, the Isle of Arran distillery may be relatively new but it is continuing a tradition of (mostly illegal!) whisky making that was carried out on the island in times gone by, using methods of production that have changed little over the years.  The whiskies they produce tend to be elegant yet complex, and are all unchillfiltered to allow the distillery character to shine through.  Included in the tasting we will have some of the existing expressions plus a couple of new releases so you will be able to taste for yourself just why this distillery is fast gaining a reputation for producing quality malts.  Plus, although Andrew can’t bring with him the trademark eagles that circle over the mountain by the distillery he has promised to bring along some new spirit so you can get a true taste of Arran in it’s elemental form!

The tasting will be held at Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren (www.stantonhouse.co.uk), and will commence at 7.00 for 7.30pm.  Tickets are £10.00 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 and, as most of you already know, these tickets sell very quickly so it is best to book ASAP.  To buy them just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com and place an order for the number you require, or telephone us on (01793) 765071, or call in and see us at Arkwrights, The Dormers, Highworth, Wiltshire.

Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and most, if not all, of the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared.

These evenings are a great chance to try some new whiskies that you might not encounter otherwise, and to be educated and entertained at the same time.  Come along and join us!

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

Music and Whisky Tasting Created By Martine Nouet

Time: Saturday, July 2 · 5:30pm – 7:00pm
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Location At the Outback Art Gallery, Sanaigmore, Isle of Islay (Scotland). Further info on the gallery may be seen at http://blog.islayinfo.com/article.php/outback-gallery-sanaigmore

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More Info Come and experience how “Music an’ whisky gang thegither” on saturday 2nd July 2011.

Presented by Martine Nouet (Photo MaltManiacs.org)

As a prelude to the wonderful Cantilena Music Festival (3rd to 8th July)

Enjoy tasting four great Islay Single Malts (Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain) to the tune of Scottish Fiddle Music played by Cantilena musicians Angus Ramsay and Angus Anderson

Ticket : £20

Book in advance through email to martine.nouet@gmail.com

Father’s Day Gift

Malt Whisky Tasting

Friday 17th June

Amrut Distillery Showcase

with Ashok Chokalingam 

Drams : Amrut Fusion (Voted World Whisky of 2011 by Malt Advocate  + Jim Murray 97 pts/100), + full range including peated cask strengths, unpeated marvels alike, international awards have flowed a pace for Amrut distillery and we have been remis to take so long before showcasing them in Stourbridge…until NOW!!!  with Cheese selection + biscuits. Ticket :£25. Held at Nickolls and Perks Private cellars in Stourbridge ,West Midlands.

Time : 7:30 until 9:30
Tickets cost : £25
Phone 01384 394518 to book remaining seats.
Printed tickets can be posted out.

Visit Nickolls and Perks at www.nickollsandperks.co.uk

Tennants Auctioneers of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, are to hold their inaugural Rare and Collectable Whisky, Wine and Spirit sale on Saturady 18th June, starting at 11am. 

There are almost 400 bottles of single malt, to be sold in around 70 lots.  Alongside modern classics such as Macallan 25 year old, bottled 1957 (estimate £300-550), Laphroaig 1976 (£150-250), and Ardbeg 1975 (£150-250), there are also a number of vintage bottlings from the 1970’s. 

The vintage bottles include a Springback 22 Year Old (£250-350), a 1970’s Laphroaig 10 Year Old (£250-350), two bottles of Glen Flagler, and a bottle of Sherriff’s Bowmore “Ship” label with box (£300-500).

The fully illustrated online catalogue is available at  http://www.tennants.co.uk/Catalogue/Sales/161.aspx starting at lot 1000. 

For those that cannot make the auction telephone bids can be arranged, or alternatively commission bids can be left.  Please contact Mark Littler on 01969 623780 for further information on the sale or consigning your own items to an auction.

The Clan MacLeod’s Annual Meeting ~ San Francisco.  This event is being held at The San Francisco Airport DoubleTree Hotel, 835 Airport Blvd., Burlingame, California 94010 Tel: 1-650-344-5500.

Here is the link: http://www.clanmacleodusa.org/2011%20San%20Francisco%20AGM%20Welcome%20page.htm

On Friday, June 17th Chris Uhde, the District Sales Manager for ImpEx Beverages will be conducting the tasting.  He is also the Scotch Expert for the United Scottish Society of Southern California.

The following are the malts we will be pouring:

Ian MacLeod’s Isle of Skye
Smokehead
Chieftain’s ~ Teaninich 28 yrs cask # 7704 cask strength
Chieftain’s ~ Mortlach 15 yrs cask # 7281 “Sherry” cask strength

In addition to the above Ian MacLeod malts, he will also be pouring Kilchoman Spring 2011 Release.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

For June, we have a truly special event lined up. In light of the horrific events that devastated a proud and noble nation on the 11th March, we felt it only right to do what we do best and put on a tasting in aid of the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal. For this, we’ve teamed up with one of the most famous oriental distillers, Suntory, and their distributor in the UK – Cellar Trends, to put on an evening of Japanese delight. We are honoured indeed to have with us the maestro himself, Master Blender Dr. Koichi Inatomi, over here from Japan to take us through an all-star range of drams from their stable.

 
Suntory Charity Tasting Evening
for the Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami Appeal,
with Dr. Koichi Inatomi
Monday 20th June, 7:00pm
 
Many of you will be aware of the exploits, accolades and acclaimed awards being scooped up by Japanese whiskies in recent competitions, but for those of you who are not, or may be a touch apprehensive about the concept, here is a little background; although whisk(e)y production is something most closely associated with Scotland, Ireland and America, the Japanese have been distilling and maturing ‘the nectar’ in the same way as the Scots from as far back as 1923. And, as with so many other practices in Japan, they are obsessed with perfection and quality. The whiskies they produce are no exception.

If the idea alone of a Japanese whisky tasting wasn’t enough to get you salivating, however, everyone who attends this tasting will automatically be entered into a raffle to win a bottle of the Hibiki 30yo, which will be announced at the end of the evening. Yes, you did read that correctly! One lucky attendee will walk home with a bottle of this stunning whisky, which has regularly won ‘Best Blended Whisky in the World’ at the International Spirits Challenge! Further to this, Dr. Inatomi himself has offered up not one but two Single Cask bottles from his own personal collection – a Yamazaki 1993 Heavily Peated and a Hakushu 1993 Sherry Bodega, both long since sold out and now highly sought after, and signed by Dr. Inatomi to be auctioned off as a pair to the highest bidder. This really is a shaping up to be the tasting event of the year! The line-up, in no particular order, will be:

Hibiki 12yo ‘Highball’
Yamazaki 12yo
Yamazaki 18yo
Yamazaki Puncheon
Yamazaki 1984 Sherry Cask
Hakushu 12yo
Hakushu Heavily Peated

The Whisky Exchange will not be charging for tickets. We are, however, asking for a minimum donation of £50 in order to attend, though of course any additional contributions you may wish to make to the appeal are more than welcome. Additional raffle tickets for the Hibiki 30yo will also be available for a £20 donation. So remember to bring lots of cash, it’s for a good cause after all!

We will be releasing places for this incredible evening from 3:00pm, Monday 13th June. From that time (not a minute earlier!), you will be able to call us on +44 (0)207 403 8688 to make your donation and guarantee yourself a place at this tasting. As with all tasting events at TWE Vinopolis, places are limited to 2 per booking.
 
Sláinte,

The Team

See you in 2012 on May 12!

Thank you to all our exhibitors and guests for making this 7th Spirit of Toronto Whisky Gala such a spectacular evening!

From whisky to cognac to rum… from the Blind Whisky Challenge to hand carved ice balls and cocktails… from the Whisky Shots! video stand to the cheese trays and beef tenderloin… this truly was a night to remember.

Masterclasses were once again fully subscribed and highlights included special guests Willie Tait from Isle of Jura, John Glaser from Compass Box, John Hall from Forty Creek Whisky and Michael Urquhart from Gordon & MacPhail who surprised and astounded his class with a rare sample of The Glenlivet 70 Year Old.

For those of you frustrated at not being able to attend a masterclass, please know that every effort will be made to ensure that as many of you as possible will be able to take part in a tutored tasting in 2012.

Once again it is time to say goodbye, but thankfully much of Spirit of Toronto 2011 has been recorded for posterity on Flickr and on Spirit of Toronto’s YouTube channel at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/spiritoftoronto

See you in 2012 on Saturday, May 12… and between now and then, have a great summer!

Mackmyra Swedish Whisky Tasting
Thursday, 9th June, 15:00 – 18:00

The Famous Grouse (and Black Grouse) 
Friday, 10th June, 15:00 – 18:00
 
Park Avenue Liquor Shop 
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
info@parkaveliquor.com
www.parkaveliquor.com

Virtual Calling Notice

Global thirst for learning about Scotch whisky quenched

Virtual Invite:                    Whisky distillers, Gordon & MacPhail, and Moray College UHI join international students to raise a toast to the launch of their online whisky course.   It has been designed to give an understanding of Scotch whisky in a bid to satisfy increasing global demand from students[1].  Staff will join Campbell Evans, Director of Government & Consumer Affairs at Scotch Whisky Association, to link up live online with students piloting the course, from the USA and South Africa, to hear their feedback and raise a toast its success. 

Virtual invitation:            The launch can be viewed online from 10.15am through the URL http://194.35.216.148/streaming.html  – conference ID 40897.  Questions can be submitted in advance by emailing the contacts below.

Date:                                     Wednesday 8 June 2011

Venue:                                 Moray College UHI, Lecture Theatre, Moray Street, Elgin

Time:                                    10.15am to 11.15am

Technical details:            When connecting to the virtual launch the following is recommended:

·         Recommended Browser: Internet Explorer 8 or above

·         Recommended Media Player: Quick time

If you are having any technical issues connecting on the day or wish to ask a question about the launch please email Lorna.Castle@moray.uhi.ac.uk.

Running order:                 Mike Devenney, Principal of Moray College UHI

Campbell Evans, Director of Government & Consumer Affairs at Scotch Whisky Association

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director, Gordon & MacPhail

                                                Jim Cryle, Course Tutor and Master Distiller

                                                Student feedback via virtual conference

                                                Question time

[1] Over the last ten years enrolment for the CD Rom version of the Whisky Course has included people from 21 countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, The Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands.

MACALLAN SCOTCH SEMINAR

Tuesday, June 14, 6:30-8:30pm

Macallan is one of the truly great Scotch Houses. Meet Brand Ambassador Stephanie Ridgeway who will lead a tasting of the 12 and 18 year old, as well as the Fine Oak bottling’s that include the 10, 15,17 and 21 year. Space is extremely limited and pre-paid reservations are required. $15 W/Binny’s Card / $20 non-members.

Call 847-831-5400 or email highlandpark@binnys.com for reservations.

Highland Park Location

153 Skokie Valley Highway | Highland Park | 847-831-5400

Visit Binny’s at www.binnys.com