Kintyre Express will be running a boat from Troon to Campbeltown for the open day at a cost of £80 return.   They will depart Troon at 9.30 am and return 16.30 pm.  Go to http://ticketapp.ibooking.com/book.asp?id_prov=3306  to book tickets.

Springbank Open Day

Thursday 19th May is the date for this year’s open day.   We will have two single casks to bottle on the day, I will get more information on the casks very soon.   We will of course have Masterclasses with Frank, Gavin and Peter.   The cost this year for the Masterclasses will be £15 and will include a glass.

Tastings in the Warehouse will also be part of the open day, at a cost of £5 which will include a discount voucher for Cadenhead Whisky Shop.

At set times throughout the day there will be free distillery tours for people who do not wish to participate in the Masterclasses.

Grant is again hosting a Cadenhead Tasting in the Tasting Room in the afternoon.   The cost of tickets will be £20 and places will be limited.

We will also have food from Auntie Mo, Food from Argyll, Seafood from McMillan Smokehouse.   A bar will be provided by Fyne Ales who will be joining us for the first time with some of their fine ales (of course).

John Brown will be there with his wood carvings – some nice new creations this year from John.   The Blacksmith’s Shop is setting up a stall to show off some of their metal art work  and hopefully they will also bring along a wood burning stove that we can gather round if it’s cold.   Various other craft stalls will also be there.

Gavin’s team will be preparing some half casks for sale as garden tubs, they also have some cask ends – do you fancy having your date of birth stencilled on one of these?

Music will be provided by local artistes.

We thought that this year we would have a BBQ and a tiny wee bonfire at about 6.30 pm, with maybe a Spooks tour round the warehouses.   I know it will not be dark but we won’t put the lights on so that you get really frightened.   I believe there are lots of spiders in the warehouses away at the back in the dark bits so I won’t be going in there!!!

Fyne Ales have agreed to stay with us for the BBQ at night and hopefully we will have some music too – maybe a piper in the warehouse to add to the atmosphere.   If you’re lucky you might even see some of the angels.

If you would like to book Masterclasses or the Cadenhead Tasting, let me know.

Contact Janet via society@springbankwhisky.com  for your chance to join the Springbank Society. 

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.  I just wanted to bring this fantastic article on the Universal Whisky Experience to your attention.  We are pleased that such a well regarded, well recognized publication has taken notice of this event.   The excitement about the event is growing and we could not be more pleased.  We’ve just welcomed a national cigar partner and will share more news about that shortly.  If you know of anyone who may be interested in attending The Universal Whisky Experience there are still tickets available.

http://robbreport.com/Wine-Spirits-Cigars/Whisky-Connoisseurs-will-Unite-in-Las-Vegas

Regards

Mahesh Patel

CEO

Visit the Universal Whisky Experience at www.universalwhiskyexperience.com

Scotch Tasting

This Thursday, February 24th.4:30 P.M. & 6:00 P.M.

Joe writes,

Please note the time change on the first tasting. Please don’t come to the 6:00 P.M. tasting before 10 minutes of 6:00. Thank You!!!!

With the frigid weather a tasting just seems like the thing to do, so make sure to stop in and taste some wonderful single malts. Some of the whiskies that will be tasted are limited releases that have been sold out, so this may be your last chance to try these single malts. Sale Prices are limited to stock in hand.

A couple of months ago I was with Jim McEwan as he was releasing The Black Art. He was very excited about this very special release. To the best of my knowledge, Federal is the only store in this state with Black Art and there is not much of it (Don’t Wait).

We will taste the following malts.

Regular Price: Sale Price:

Blackadder Teaninich 24 Y.O. 54.3% $224.99 $194.99

Balvenie New Oak 17 Y.O.    43% $139.99 $109.99

Bruichladdich Black Art 19 Y.O. 51.1%  $164.99 $149.99

Bruichladdich Celtic Nations 46%      $74.99 $64.99

Bruichladdich Sassicia 46% $84.99 $74.99

Craigellachie G&M  14 Y.O.      43% $72.99 $64.99

Federal Wine & Spirits

Email: info@federalwine.com
Phone: (617) 367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

The Whisky Israel blog has announces the “GlenDronach Time” competition and a  chance to win a 15 year old GlenDronach ‘Revival’.

All you have to do is answer 4 questions regarding the GlenDronach distillery , and become a fan of whisky Israel’s twitter, or FaceBook page.

More information here:

http://bit.ly/fPUpv7

Nickolls and Perks Malt Whisky 2011 Festival
A great opportunity to experience
 
Saturday 24th September 2011
Timetable : 11am until 5pm
Venue : Stourbridge Town Hall
 
NEWS ..Masterclasses …..David Robertson has been confirmed so far…others to follow…
 
David Robertson is confirmed to attend the Nickolls and Perks Malt Whisky Festival and to conduct a Dalmore masterclass.

David Robertson is Director of Rare Whisky at Dalmore
and former Master Distiller at Macallan.
http://www.thedalmore.com/the-distillery/bio-david-robertson.aspx
 
 
Malt Festival – Taste from over 200 drams
Masterclasses – Taste with the distillery managers, owners & Directors
Select Top Draw – every visitor gets a gold ticket to try a Top Draw Dram
Chilax – Celtic Sounds on stage + food court lounge
 
 
Malt Festival + Masterclass tickets on sale soon
 
Full detailed web site coming very soon

GLENLIVET SEMINAR

Friday, February 25, 6:00-8:30pm

Glenlivet Brand Ambassador Winston Evans will lead this seminar and sample some of the finest Glenlivet whiskies available. This seminar will include 12 year, 15 year French Oak, 18 year, 21 year Archive and more. $10 W/Binny’s Card / $15 non-members. Seating is extremely limited and paid reservations are required. Call 847-831-5400 or email highlandpark@binnys.com for reservations.
Highland Park Store 153 Skokie Valley Highway | Highland Park | 847-831-5400

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers – 

Also, for those who live in California, or are looking for a great reason to visit San Francisco in March, I am excited as hell to tell you that ForScotchLovers will have a booth at this years Whiskies of the World Expo on March 26th.  This is a terrific show, and I’m thrilled we’ll be a part of it.  And because we are participating in the show, I’m able to offer you a great discount on tickets (see below).

These are two extremely exciting opportunities…I hope you’ll take advantage of both. And if you do attend the Whiskies of the World Expo, ya better stop by our booth and say hello.

I hope to see you all there,    

Doug Stone
Founder
www.ForScotchLovers.com  

12th Annual Whiskies of the World Expo & Artisanal Spirits Fest

March  26th in San Francisco

The Whiskies of the World Expo gathers the world’s most fascinating distilled spirits along with their makers and ambassadors to give its guests an opportunity to sample, learn and experience a night of delicious spirited fun.

By popular demand, the 12th Expo will take place again on the San Francisco Belle Yacht (docked) with its three ballroom-size tasting decks, and an open roof Whisky & Cigar Pairing deck. Come on March, 26th to enjoy a full buffet dinner; meeting and learning from the world’s spirits producers; creators and experts; a live Pipe and Drum Concert; mixology demonstrations, Celtic craft  and whisky gear booths, artisanal food pairings with exclusive whiskies;  live music and more. Learn, celebrate, experience!

And of course, ForScotchLovers will be there too!

For details and to buy your tickets visit the Whiskies Of The World website. 

Enter discount code: WOW2011FSL on the checkout page for an 8% discount on tickets and Dram Club membership.

The very first Inverness Whisky Festival will take place at Bogbain Farm on 8 & 9 April this year. Featuring whiskies from small and independent distilleries around Scotland, live music, food from Good Highland Food and a Masterchef winner, master classes and a collectors auction, it’s set to be the best small whisky festival in the world.

Exhibiting at the Festival, alongside the likes of Abhainn Dearg (Lewis), Benromach (Speyside), Springbank (Campbeltown), Balblair (Dornoch Firth), Glenglassaugh (Portsoy) and more, will be the Tomatin distillery – Inverness’ local brand, and the Festival’s official sponsor.

In Bogbain Farm’s inimitable style, the Inverness Whisky Festival will also feature live music. Owner of Bogbain Farm and founding member of folk band, Blazin Fiddles’, Bruce MacGregor said, “Following on from the roaring success of the Hogmanay Barn Dance held at Bogbain, the Festival will launch with a ceilidh hosted by the Bogbain All Star Ceilidh Band. We are delighted to be bringing the first Whisky Festival to Inverness!”

Througout the Saturday there will be an open stage featuring musicians from all over Scotland, and the inaugural Whisky Festival will close on the Saturday night with a brilliant double bill – local stars, duo Mairearad Green & Anna Massie and Orcadian legends, Saltfishforty.

Tom Morton, Bruce’s colleague at BBC Radio Scotland, will also be bringing his Malt & Barley Revue to the Festival – a show featuring witty songs, poetry and stories about whisky – as well as a dram for everyone in the audience!

Visitors to the event can contact the Festival directly in order to get great rates at the luxury Kingsmills Hotel. To find out more, visit the website: http://www.invernesswhiskyfestival.co.uk

Tickets are on sale NOW – less than 200 available so grab ’em quickly! http://www.invernesswhiskyfestival.co.uk/?page_id=102

Dear All,

This is just a quick email to let you know that after organising two very successful Whisky Shows in London in 2009 & 2010, The Whisky Exchange has dissolved our partnership with our co-founder GW Publishing (Graeme Wallace). This year, we will be hosting a new event, The Whisky Exchange WHISKY SHOW at Vinopolis on 7th-8th October 2011 (see below).

We are sending this message because we have been made aware that GW Publishing has begun selling tickets to The Whisky Show 2011 without notifying people that The Whisky Exchange has withdrawn from that Show and without releasing any details of exhibitors. We don’t want anyone to get the false impression that we are still organising this whisky show.

Just to be clear, TWE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY WAY WITH THE WHISKY SHOW 2011 (sorry for shouting). Please note also that we no longer have any connection to www.thewhiskyshow.com – the website for our show is now www.whisky-show.com

The good news is that this year TWE is taking our Show to the next level, with the launch of our own event, The Whisky Exchange WHISKY SHOW in Vinopolis, near Borough Market. This event will be taking place on 7th-8th October 2011 – you can find more details on www.whisky-show.com.

Of course, we’ll be sticking to the principles that have made our previous Shows so successful, with top-end premium whiskies at every stand, a hearty two-course meal for every visitor, incredible Masterclasses, and tokens for ‘Dream Drams’ allowing you to pick from a selection of the greatest whiskies ever made – all this, plus a host of gorgeous food matches and fabulous cocktails.

Tickets for The Whisky Exchange WHISKY SHOW will be on sale shortly (after we’ve confirmed a few more exhibitors – we want you to know exactly what you’re getting for your money).

We hope you’ll join us in Vinopolis on 7th-8th October – we’re convinced that this will be our best Whisky Show yet.

Regards & thanks,

The Whisky Exchange

Hi All,

At last the days are getting longer, the birds are coming back and I feel like a mole emerging from a very cold, dark tunnel!

Unlike a mole, however, I have been beavering away (sorry!) sorting out events for the first half of 2011. I am just about there now, with the next four months taken care of.

So without further ado, I give you the Whisky Lounge Calendar for February, March, April and May – so far!..

Independent’s Day? – Blind
£22 per person
Series looking at three malt distilleries, and tasting two whiskies from each – one from the distilling company and one from a top independent bottler. A chance to see how the two work slightly differently and how different whiskies from the same distillery can be…Already heavily subscribed, but some tickets remain at most venues.

Friday 11th February – Britons Protection, Manchester SOLD OUT
Friday 18th February – Blackfriars, Newcastle Upon Tyne, TICKETS AVAILABLE
Saturday 26th February – The Grand Hotel, York TICKETS AVAILABLE
Friday 4th March – Mint Hotel (formally City Inn), Leeds TICKETS AVAILABLE

Creative Whisky Company
£22 per person
Join us for a mini-series of tastings from this exciting and ambitious independent bottler. David Stirk, the companies Creator and Director, introduces some of his latest and greatest whiskies for your delectation. You are sure to enjoy this rare opportunity to enjoy the company of David who is a well-known and sometimes controversial figure in the whisky industry…

Friday 11th March – Britons Protection, Manchester
Saturday 12th March – Blackfriars, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Pernod Ricard – Glenlivet et all
£22 per person
Phil Huckle, the Chivas UK Brand Ambassador, guides us through a tasting of some of his favourite whiskies from their more than impressive range. Whiskies from Glenlivet, Aberlour, Scapa and Longmorn are expected – along with a few other lesser-seen and unexpected little beauties. This should be a fantastic and delicious series!

Friday 8th April – Britons Protection, Manchester
Tuesday 12th April – Red Lion, Crown Passage, London, SW1
Friday 15th April – Blackfriars, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Saturday 16th April – The Grand Hotel, York
Friday 13th May – Mint Hotel, Granary Wharf, Leeds

Look out, it’s the…

Newcastle Whisky Festival
Saturday 7th May 2011
The Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne
12pm-5pm
£18 per person

Yes it is already that time of year! Our third festival in ‘Toon’ takes place a little earlier this year and is already looking like being as bit as good as previous years, with exhibitors already flocking to stampeding to get involved!
Confirmed we already have…

Amrut
Ardbeg/Glenmorangie
Diageo
Berry Brothers & Rudd
Whyte & Mackay (Jura, Dalmore)
Cooley
The Square Whisky Barrel Co.
Springbank
An Cnoc
Old Pulteney
Balblair
Glenfiddich
Balvenie
Gordon & MacPhail
Compass Box
Duncan Taylor

…and there’s many more to come!

Tickets are available from the website already and are selling fast – keep checking back for masterclasses and more details of exhibitors.

I think that’s quite enough for just now so I will leave you to digest all of this and I look forward to seeing many of you very soon…

Slainte!
Eddie

Eddie Ludlow
Whisky Evangelist

thewhiskylounge
www.thewhiskylounge.com
eddie@thewhiskylounge.com
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IWSC Spirit Panel Judge 2009-present