A very Happy New Year to you all, and to chase away the post Christmas blues we thought you’d like to know that tickets are now available for our next tutored tasting.   We’re going to start the year off with a selection of Irish whiskey and are very fortunate to have Noel Sweeney, Master Distiller, coming along from Cooley Distillery on Wednesday 9th February.

 
Recently named European Distiller of the Year for the third year running at the 2010 International Wine and Spirit Awards, Cooley distillery was established in 1987 and so is only relatively young.  However, the vision when it was created was to restore the ancient distilling techniques of Irish whiskey and bring back to life some of the famous old Irish whiskey brands. This means that Cooley distillery uses centuries old methods of Irish pot still distillation when producing their whiskey.  Additionally, whilst all their brands display the characteristic smooth and sweet taste of Irish whiskey the fact that Cooley have both malt and grain distilleries means they are able to produce a wide range of styles – including peated and unpeated single malts, aged blends, wood finished and cask strength whiskies, and single grain whiskey. 

As you can see, this is going to be an interesting and diverse whiskey tasting, with something for every taste and the added bonus of the master distiller himself being here to take us through the drams and give us the inside story on this award winning independent distillery.  A great start to our whisky tasting year so don’t miss out!

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 always 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

Stanton House

Kentucky Cooperage Tours

Mon.-Fri. ♥ 9:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.

712 E. Main St.

Tel. 270.692.4674

marcia.morgeson@kentuckycooperage.com for further details.

Kentucky Cooperage makes the charred oak barrels critical for the production of bourbon. See how “charring” is done, how staves are shaped, how hoops are put in place and how barrels are made leak proof without manmade sealers.

Jim Murray’s Whisky Swirl ~ Friday, February 4, 2011

The Whisky Guru and author of “The Whisky Bible”, Jim Murray, is returning to the Fairmont Empress for another amazing Whisky Event. During this inspiring 3 hour event you will have the opportunity to taste the world’s best whiskies, blend your own whisky and interact directly with this iconic man.

Tickets are $95 ($76 for Friends of the Empress).

Please call 250 384 8111 for Dining Reservations to reserve your spot today. Visit the Fairmont Empress at www.fairmont.com/empress/

The Highlander Inn’s “Unique Whisky Breakfast”

Over the weekend of 4th – 5th September 2010, The Highlander Inn was honoured to prepare and serve a special “Whisky Breakfast” for all 150 participants at Maltstock 2010 in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Included as a part of this breakfast was an absolutely unique “Maltstock Breakfast Whisky” created by Compass Box Whisky’s own John Glaser, especially for the event!

It was a vatting of Clynelish and Caol Ila with an average age of 18 years that had been gently maturing and marrying in an unusual old Bourbon Cask for over 4 years. Only 41 bottles were produced, almost all of which were consumed over the 2 days.

We’ve now recreated ~ with the full support of both the Maltstock organisers and John Glaser ~ the same breakfast here at the Highlander Inn for you to enjoy.

The Menu
•Orange juice
•Choice of cereals and grapefruit segments from the buffet
•Scrambled or fried eggs
Grilled Dufftown bacon & sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes,
Locally caught haggis, black pudding
•Breakfast tea or real strong cafétiere coffee
•Loads of toast, marmalades, jams and honey,
•and a dram of ………
•Compass Box “Maltstock Breakfast Whisky”

The Cost? Just £22.50 per person including V.A.T. (or a &pound12.00 supplement per person if staying at the Highlander Inn.)

How to book? Because bookings need to be made in advance, just pop in and see us (or give us a call) the day before, or email us at least 48 hrs in advance.

The Highlander Inn, Craigellachie, Speyside, Banffshire, AB38 9SR, Scotland.
Telephone: +44(0)1340 881446 Fax: +44(0)1340 881520  Email: info@whiskyinn.com Web:  http://www.whiskyinn.com/

Whisky for Burns’ Night
+ Haggis, Tatties n Neaps supper
Friday 28th January
 
The whiskies on taste will be from far and wide, but will include a Diageo special 2010 release from Scotland  :Caol Ila 12 yo unpeated. You may have to guess the others… with loads of help from yours truly (David Gardener) …A special night is promised.
 
Start : 7:30 pm
 
Cost £25
 
Ticket reservations : 01384 394518
 
Venue : Nickolls & Perks Cellars
 
—————————————————-
 
PS : This is a supplentary night to the 20th January tasting, for which few places remain.

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

Warm Up with Whiskey ~ Thursday, January 20, 2011. Escape from January and come Warm Up with Whiskey! The Fairmont Empress is excited to be hosting a Whiskey Reception from 5:30pm – 7pm featuring four of Jameson’s finest whiskies, including Jameson’s Gold and Jameson’s Rarest Vintage.  All will be paired with sumptuous delights by the culinary team. Tickets are $60 ($48 for Friends of the Empress).

Please call 250 384 8111 for Dining Reservations to reserve your spot today.  Visit the Fairmont Empress at www.fairmont.com/empress/

Visit the Malmaison Aberdeen at https://www.malmaison.com/hotels/aberdeen/aberdeen-mal.aspx

Single Malt Scotch Whisky:

appreciation, elucidation, information

Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six

2nd Saturday    every month    6 – 9 p.m.    no reservation required

Enjoy 5 half-ounce samples of single malt Scotch whisky, $20:

    ♦  We feature 3 single malts, including a Malt of the Month *

    ♦  You roll a die then pick your choice from one of the six Scotch regions

    ♦  You pick your Connoisseur’s choice from our menu of 72 single malts

Peruse our whisky library. Learn about each of our single malts in Bob’s menu book: distillery info, tasting notes, prices, and more.  Light hors d’oeuvres included, and the saloon’s open to non-whisky drinkers.

January 8, 2011

Balvenie 12 yo DoubleWood *

Glenfiddich 15 yo

Deanston 12 yo un-chill filtered

February 12, 2011

Balblair 1997 *

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Strathisla 12 yo

March 12, 2011

Singleton of Glendullan    12 yo *

Glenlivet Nadurra 16 yo

Ledaig 10 yo

http://www.minersdelightinn.com/

Bob at work...

Come join The Scotch Malt Whisky Society at The Universal Whisky Experience in Las Vegas March 18th & 19th, 2011

Tolbooth Tavern Edinburgh

Proposed program January to July 2011:-

Themes:

Tomintoul, 21yo, 33yo 43%, Old Ballantruan 50%, port finish 46%, sherry finish

Ben Nevis: Cadenheads 12yo 57.1%, 10yo 46%, single blend, single grain, Cadenheads ‘dumpy’ 06/1965 – 12/1981 16yo

Arran: peated, ‘Oran Mor’ 56.4%, 10yo 57.1% Bourbon cask, Cadenheads (?) plus another one

Bladnoch: Rare Malts 23yo, Cadenheads 17yo 55.1%, peated, sherry cask plus one other example

Lagavulin: LG1 56.3%, Distiller’s Edition, 16yo 43%, 1995 European oak 48% and a fifth expression

Non-Scottish peaty drams: India: Amrut, U.S.A.: McCarthy’s, Japan: t.b.c., England: St. Georges, Ireland: Cooley

Islay No.1 and No.2: Port Charlotte An Toras Mor 46%, Bunnahabhain Toiteach 46%, Laphroaig triple wood 48%, Octomore Orpheus 2.2 140ppm 61%, Kilchoman,  Cadenheads Ardbeg 16yo 55.6%, Caol Ila unpeated 12yo 57.6%, Bowmore, Port Ellen and Lagavulin

Dates; (P/O/U/R/S = peaty/old/rare/unusual/rare/sherry cask)

January: 6th theme, 20th P/O/U/R/S

February: 3rd theme, 17th P/O/U/R/S

March: 3rd theme, 17th P/O/U/R/S, 31st theme

April: 14th P/O/U/R/S, 28th theme

May: 12th P/O/U/R/S, 26th theme

June: 9th P/O/U/R/S, 23rd theme

July: 7th P/O/U/R/S, 21st theme

Other future tastings:-

Peaty blends 40% : date and price tbc
Islay Mist
Islay Hallmark 8yo
Black Bottle 10yo
Black Grouse
Black Bottle
plus a special guest (Brora or Port Ellen)

Visit the Jolly Toper at http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/