Talisker Meets Borough Market in the Tasting of the Century! (so far). Monday 13th September, 7:00pm 

We have the pleasure of the ever irrepressible Colin Dunn, Ambassador for Diageo’s “posh brands” department, who will be taking us through some very fine Talisker Single Malt. Instead of just tasting the whiskies alone however, we would like to showcase the versatility of Talisker by pairing the various expressions with different foods, all of which are available right from our doorstep in Borough Market.

To get your taste buds rolling, Ester Cuesta from Roast has come up with a fabulous cocktail using the Talisker 10yo among other things.

After this we will be matching other expressions with magnificent things such as West Coast Oysters from the Wright Brothers, Peat-Smoked Scallops from the Hebridean Smoke-house, cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy, and a fantastic finale with Chocolate from the recently opened Rabot Estate. Along with the matching we will also have a couple of real stars of the Talisker stable to be tasted on their own.

Now fear not, dear whisky fans – we know that whisky can be tricky to match with food, and so we have been sure to do a lot of in-depth research to make sure that our palates will be caressed gently and well. A hard job, we’re sure you’ll agree, but one we felt we must do on your behalf.

Due to the extraordinarily complex and luxurious nature of this event, tickets will be slightly more at £40 per person, but what with the whisky and the produce, this is still a real bargain, and as such we expect places to go extremely quickly indeed.

Tickets will go on sale 3:00pm, Monday 6th September and are, as always, limited to 2 tickets per booking.

The Whisky Show 2010  on the 29th / 30th October for both of which tickets are now on sale.

Following on from last year’s groundbreaking sessions, there are some truly sensational Masterclasses at The Whisky Show again this year. Tickets for the Dalmore and Clynelish tastings sold out almost immediately, but there are still a few places available for the Sherried Glenmorangie tasting with Annabel Meikle, and the remarkable Tour of Islay tasting (featuring Ardbeg ’77 and Laphroaig 30 amongst other gems).
 
In addition, the final Masterclass has just been announced for the Friday evening – a Diageo Manager’s Choice session, featuring Clynelish, Talisker, Lagavulin and more. Click here http://tinyurl.com/WS2010MC to buy tickets for The Whisky Show Masterclasses – but don’t forget that if you want to attend any of these tastings, you’ll need a ticket for the Show itself, available from here http://tinyurl.com/WS2010ST.

The Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival is organised by Dufftown 2000 Ltd. in partnership with Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Ltd.

Thursday September 23rd 2010
 
Inchgower Distillery Visit Inchgower Distillery, Buckie 10:00 11:30 1 Places  £8.00 
 
This is a unique opportunity to visit one of Diageo’s unsung heroes of the Bells Blended Whiskies. 
 
Tomintoul Distillery Visit Tomintoul Distillery 14:30 16:45 5 Places  £8.00 

Join Tom Gerrie head brewer at the Tomintoul Distillery for one of the best distillery tours on Speyside.
 
Late Night at The WSD The Whisky Shop Dufftown, Dufftown 18:00 20:00    
 
Drop in for a dram and see what’s going on at the festival. …read more
 
A Soiree with the Mates of the Whisky Museum Whisky Museum, Dufftown 19:30 21:30 7 Places   
 
Get the Festival off to a swinging start at a soiree with the Mates of the Whisky Museum

Friday September 24th 2010
 
The Beyond Speyside Bus Tour The Square, Dufftown 08:30 18:30 Fully Booked  £48.00  
 
This is a unique opportunity to visit the Glen Ord Distillery Group and the Dalmore Distillery North of Inverness 
 
The Whisky Smugglers Experience The Square, Dufftown 09:00 13:00 3 Places  £30.00 
 
Join us on an exploration of the Braes of Glenlivet by Land Rover – home to illicit whisky distillers and smugglers during the late 18th century.

Mortlach Distillery Tour Mortlach Distillery, Dufftown 10:00 11:30 Fully Booked  £8.00  
 
This is a rare opportunity to visit the Mortlach Distillery one of Diageo’s best-loved Distilleries.  

Speyside Cooperage Tour Speyside Cooperage, Craigellachie 10:00 12:00 6 Places  £13.50 
 
Specially arranged for the Festival, an exclusive tour of this unique 5 Star Visitor Attraction. 
 
Glenfiddich: The Manager’s Tour Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown 10:30 13:30 11 Places  £21.00 
 
A Unique opportunity to tour the Glenfiddich Complex in the company of Stuart Watts of William Grant’s & Sons to see behind the scenes. 
 
6 of the Best at the Whisky Castle Tomintoul The Whisky Castle, Tomintoul 11:00 17:00 

Join Mike Drury and sample some delightful Drams.
 
Strathmill & Strathisla Distilleries by Train Dufftown Station, Dufftown 11:20 17:35 10 Places  £25.00

Travel along The Whisky Line to Keith for a Tour of Strathmill and Strathisla Distilleries and enjoy a dram on the way! 
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 11:25 12:05 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 

All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 

Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 12:15 12:55 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 Book Now
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 

Aultmore Distillery by Train and Bus Dufftown Station, Dufftown 12:45 17:30 2 Places  £25.00 

Travel along The Whisky Line to Keith and then by bus for an exclusive Tour of Aultmore Distillery and enjoy a dram on the way! 
 
Whisky Tasting: Arran Distillery St James’, Dufftown 13:00 14:30 35 Places  £17.00 
 
Whisky tasting with Andy Hogan of Arran Distillery.

Speyside Cooperage Tour Speyside Cooperage, Craigellachie 13:00 15:00 8 Places  £13.50 
 
Specially arranged for the Festival, an exclusive tour of this unique 5 Star Visitor Attraction. 
 
Strathisla Distillery by Train (pm) Dufftown Station, Dufftown 13:55 17:25 4 Places  £17.00
 
Travel along The Whisky Line to Keith for a Tour of Strathisla Distillery and enjoy a dram on the way! 
 
The Whisky Smugglers Experience The Square, Dufftown 14:00 18:00 Fully Booked  £30.00  
 
Join us on an exploration of the Braes of Glenlivet by Land Rover – home to illicit whisky distillers and smugglers during the late 18th century. 
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 14:00 14:40 25 Return  £9.5025 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 14:50 15:30 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
Whisky Tasting: Gordon & MacPhail St James’, Dufftown 15:30 17:00 25 Places  £17.00 
 
Whisky Tasting with Mike Patterson of Gordon & MacPhail.
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 15:50 16:30 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 16:40 17:20 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
It’s not just about Water, Barley and Yeast St James’, Dufftown 18:00 19:30 32 Places  £17.00 
 
This whisky tasting will seek to underline the range of flavours that whisky has from comparing triple distillation to a iconic Islay distillery.
 
Stramash Memorial Hall, Dufftown 20:00 00:00 103 Places  £7.00
 
Stramash is a fun musical evening where musicians come together to play. Food will be provided together with a licenced bar.

Saturday September 25th 2010
 
Glendronach Distillery and Single Malts Direct The Square, Dufftown 09:15 13:30 10 Places  £31.00 

Join Allan McConnochie for a Distillery Manager’s tour of Glendronach and vertical tasting followed by a visit to Single Malts Direct in Huntly. 
 
Glenfiddich Cooperage Tour Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown 10:00 11:30 8 Places  £10.00

This is a rare opportunity to visit the Genfiddich Cooperage.
 
Balvenie Malt Master Tour Balvenie Distillery, Dufftown 10:00 14:30 6 Places  £100.00
 
Join David Stewart, The Balvenie Malt Master, on an exclusive, Balvenie Distillery experience, tasting and lunch. 
 
Craft Fayre Memorial Hall, Dufftown 10:00 16:00
 
The Craft Fayre will be held in the Memorial Hall. This year we have a great variety of stalls in the Hall. 
 
6 of the Best at the Whisky Castle Tomintoul The Whisky Castle, Tomintoul 11:00 17:00 
 
Join Mike Drury and sample some delightful Drams
 
Strathisla Distillery by Train (am) Dufftown Station, Dufftown 11:20 15:35 6 Places  £17.00 
 
Travel along The Whisky Line to Keith for a Tour of Strathisla Distillery and enjoy a dram on the way! 

Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 11:25 12:05 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
Glenfiddich Cooperage Tour Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown 12:00 13:30 8 Places  £10.00 
 
This is a rare opportunity to visit the Genfiddich Cooperage.

Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 12:15 12:55 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
The Seven Stills Bus Tour The Square, Dufftown 12:30 17:30 Fully Booked  £25.00  
 
A unique opportunity to visit all of Dufftown’s working distilleries guided by Gordon Haughton of Dufftown and his team.

Whisky Tasting: Springbank St James’, Dufftown 13:00 14:30 25 Places  £17.00 
 
Whisky tasting with Iain Scott of Springbank.
 
Glen Elgin and Glen Moray Distilleries The Square, Dufftown 13:35 18:00 7 Places  £25.00 

Visit the Glen Elgin Distillery on the outskirts of Elgin, followed by the 5th Chapter Tour and Tasting at the Glen Moray Distillery.
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 14:00 14:40 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 

All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
Glenfiddich Cooperage Tour Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown 14:00 15:30 8 Places  £10.00 

This is a rare opportunity to visit the Genfiddich Cooperage .

Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 14:50 15:30 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 

All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
Whisky Tasting: Whyte & MacKay St James’, Dufftown 15:30 17:00 35 Places  £17.00 

Whisky tasing with Steven MacConachie of Whyte & MacKay 

Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 15:50 16:30 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 

Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 16:40 17:20 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 

Whisky Tasting: Adelphi St James’, Dufftown 17:30 19:00 15 Places  £17.00 

Whisky Tasting with Antonia Bruce of Adelphi 

Tannochbrae Restaurant Gala Dinner Tannochbrae Restaurant, Dufftown 19:30 23:30 Fully Booked  £49.50  
 
Susie and Alan will be hosting a 6-course Gala Dinner  
 
A Taste of Speyside Festival Dinner Taste of Speyside, Dufftown 19:30 00:00 27 Places  £49.00  
 
Join the Festival Gala Whisky Dinner at the Taste of Speyside. The 5-course menu will be accompanied with a dram for every course. 
 
Celtic Music at Glenfiddich Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown 19:30 22:30 56 Places  £20.00 
 
Enjoy an evening of Celtic and Traditional Scottish Music.

Sunday September 26th 2010
 
The Battle of Mortlach Walk The Square, Dufftown 09:00 13:40 4 Places  £27.00 

Join David Newland and Ann Hewawitharana for this historic Walk to trace the Battle of Mortlach.

Tomintoul Distillery & Tomintoul The Square, Dufftown 10:00 15:30 9 Places  £28.00 

Enjoy a guided tour of the Tomintoul Distillery, visit the Whisky Castle for a dram or 2 followed by lunch at the Clockhouse Restaurant. 

Craft Fayre Memorial Hall, Dufftown 10:00 16:00   
 
The Craft Fayre will be held in the Memorial Hall. This year we have a great variety of stalls in the Hall. 

6 of the Best at the Whisky Castle Tomintoul The Whisky Castle, Tomintoul 11:00 17:00 

Join Mike Drury and sample some delightful Drams 
 
Strathisla Distillery by Train (am) Dufftown Station, Dufftown 11:20 15:35 7 Places  £17.00 

Travel along The Whisky Line to Keith for a Tour of Strathisla Distillery and enjoy a dram on the way! 
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 11:25 12:05 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! …read more
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 12:15 12:55 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 

All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line!

Keith Dufftown Railway Nosing & Tasting Special 1 Dufftown Station, Dufftown 12:45 15:30 10 Places  £29.00 
 
Join Steve Oliver in the first class compartment for a nosing and tasting on route to Keith. A light lunch at the Buffer Stop Café is included. 
 
Whisky Tasting: “Do We Think We Know About Whisky? St James’, Dufftown 13:00 14:30 19 Places  £17.00 

Whisky tasting with Mike Lord of The WSD looking at whether some of the whisky truths are really true. 
 
The Aberlour Distillery Founder’s Tour The Square, Dufftown 13:40 16:40 Fully Booked  £34.00  
 
Join Julian and Dennis for this exciting Aberlour Distillery Tour, new for 2010.
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 14:00 14:40 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 

All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 14:50 15:30 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00

All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 

Keith Dufftown Railway Nosing & Tasting Special 2 Dufftown Station, Dufftown 15:00 17:30 8 Places  £27.00 

Join Steve Oliver in the first class compartment for a nosing and tasting on route to Keith. Afternoon Tea at the Buffer Stop Café is included. 

Whisky Auction The Royal British Legion Hall, Dufftown 15:00 18:00   
 
A large range of Whisky and Whisky Memorabilia will go under the hammer at the Annual Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival Auction.  
 
Whisky Tasting: The WSD Bottlings St James’, Dufftown 15:30 17:00 19 Places  £10.00 
 
Come and try the whiskies where Mike Lord of The WSD has chosen the casks 
 
Keith & Dufftown Railway from Dufftown to Keith Dufftown Station, Dufftown 15:50 16:30 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 

All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 

Keith & Dufftown Railway from Keith to Dufftown Keith Town Station, Keith 16:40 17:20 25 Return  £9.50 25 Single  £6.00 
 
All aboard for a spectacular journey along The Whisky Line! 
 
Whisky Tasting: Cadenheads St James’, Dufftown 17:30 19:00 9 Places  £17.00 
 
Whisky tasting with Mark Davidson of Cadenheads.

The Whisky Quiz 2010 St James’, Dufftown 20:30 22:00 32 Places  £5.00 

Whisky trivia meets pub quiz.

Monday September 27th 2010
 
The Whisky Smugglers Experience The Square, Dufftown 09:00 13:00 3 Places  £30.00 
 
Join us on an exploration of the Braes of Glenlivet by Land Rover – home to illicit whisky distillers and smugglers during the late 18th century. 

Auchroisk and BenRiach Distilleries The Square, Dufftown 09:00 13:15 Fully Booked  £20.00  
 
Join this unique tour to Auchroisk and BenRiach Distilleries 

Dufftown Distillery Tour Dufftown Distillery, Dufftown 10:00 11:30 4 Places  £8.00 
 
This is a rare opportunity to visit the Dufftown Distillery the heart of Bells Whisky.
 
Speyside Cooperage Tour Speyside Cooperage, Craigellachie 10:00 12:00 3 Places  £13.50 

Specially arranged for the Festival, an exclusive tour of this unique 5 Star Visitor Attraction. 
 
6 of the Best at the Whisky Castle Tomintoul The Whisky Castle, Tomintoul 11:00 17:00   
 
Join Mike Drury and sample some delightful Drams.

Dramble” around the 7 Stills of Dufftown The Square, Dufftown 12:30 17:30 19 Places  £18.00 Book Now
 
Join Gordon Haughton and his team for this new take on the legendary “7 Stills of Dufftown“.  
 
Whisky Tasting: BenRiach St James’, Dufftown 13:00 14:30 34 Places  £17.00 
 
Whisky Tasting with Alastair Walker of BenRiach.

Speyside Cooperage Tour Speyside Cooperage, Craigellachie 13:00 15:00 9 Places  £13.50 
 
Specially arranged for the Festival, an exclusive tour of this unique 5 Star Visitor Attraction. 
 
Ardmore Distillery and the Grouse Inn The Square, Dufftown 13:30 13:30 8 Places  £29.00 

Tour the Ardmore Distillery then visit the famous “Grouse Inn” at lower Cabrach for a dram or 2 and high tea.  
 
Mortlach Distillery Tour Mortlach Distillery, Dufftown 14:00 15:30 Fully Booked  £8.00  
 
This is a rare opportunity to visit the Mortlach Distillery one of Diageo’s best-loved Distilleries.  

Whisky Tasting: Glenfarclas St James’, Dufftown 15:30 17:00 37 Places  £17.00 

Whisky tasting of the Glenfarclas range.
 
Whisky Tasting: Duncan Taylor St James’, Dufftown 18:00 19:30 18 Places  £17.00 

A chance to sample 5 whiskies from Duncan Taylor’s latest range. 
 
The Drams Party The Whisky Shop Dufftown, Dufftown 20:00 22:00 47 Places  £12.00 

The Drams Party – come along and try whiskies from The Whisky Shop Dufftown tastings you missed.

Tuesday September 28th 2010
 
Benrinnes Distillery Visit Benrinnes Distillery 10:00 11:30 3 Places  £8.00 
 
This is a rare opportunity to visit the Benrinnes Distillery (not normally open to the public), one of Diageo’s unsung heroes.  
 
Knockdhu Distillery Visit KnockDhu Distillery 14:00 15:30 5 Places  £8.00 
 
Join Gordon Bruce the Distillery Manager for an exciting visit to the Knock Dhu Distillery by Huntly.

http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/index.php

What a amazing schedule of events!

Buy your tickets for Whisky Live Paris at http://www.whiskylive.fr/

End of Summer Ticket Sale!

From the WoW team;

It’s been said, more than once, that the best time of year to visit San Francisco is in the spring and fall. So while you’re enjoying the last few days of summer weather in your neck of the woods you should be thinking ahead to next spring. There are only a two weeks left before the WoW early bird ticket sale price expires on September 18th. So, get out that plastic and act now before the price increases. If you change your mind before the end of the year (hard to imagine), the early bird tickets are fully refundable. How could you ask for a better deal!

                                         Regular Price    Summer Sale price
General Adm                             $110           $95
6:00 pm – 10:pm   
VIP :                                              $135         $120
5:15 pm – 10:pm   
Dram Club                                   $120         $105
5:00 pm – 10:pm  
Dram Club Membership          $60            $40 

(Early Bird Tickets are refundable until Dec 31)

We have a new ticketing system for WoW 2011 to ensure an expedited check in process.  VIP ticket holders at the doc by 5:00 pm will be guaranteed entrance by 5:25.  VIP only spirits will be poured until 6:15.

Purchase your tickets at http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/

SCOTLAND MALT WHISKY TOUR  JUNE 18 – JULY 02, 2011 hosted by THE COMPANIONS OF THE QUAICH

From Ed Patrick, Companions  of the Quaich President;
 
Day to Day Itinerary Overview

DAY 1: SAT 18 JUNE – Depart for Scotland Tonight we meet at Toronto airport and board our non-stop overnight flight from Toronto to Glasgow, Scotland. Dinner and complimentary in-flight service will be provided for you. (D)

DAY 2: SUN 19 JUNE – Arrive Scotland
This morning we arrive in Scotland. “CEAD MILE FAILTE!” Once through luggage and passport formalities we meet our guide Morag Brodie and driver who will escort us on this memorable journey.

One of our long standing traditions is to begin our journey with a hearty Scottish breakfast. With all the regular local culinary delights and trimmings on offer there is ample selection of food to set you on your way.

From Glasgow we head for the outskirts of the city and visit Auchentoshan distillery. With the triple distill process, unique to this distillery, we have the opportunity to sample the single malts. 

From Auchentoshan we take the beautiful drive along the shores of Loch Lomond to the town of Inveraray. Situated on the banks of Loch Fyne it is the perfect setting to begin our journey! The remainder of the afternoon has been left free so you can relax. Dinner and overnight will be at The Argyll Hotel, Inveraray. (D)

DAY 3: MON 20 JUNE – Ferry to Islay
Today we leave the mainland and follow the scenic route to our point of embarkation to Islay.  From here we take the ferry crossing to the Inner Hebrides and the Isle of Islay Upon arrival on Islay we head to Bowmore, on the south shore of Loch Indaal. With accommodation at the Bowmore Cottages and local hotels for the next three nights it will feel as if you are “home from home.”  This afternoon we walk over to the Bowmore Distillery and sample our first Islay single malt. Dinner tonight will be at the Lochside Hotel restaurant. (B,D)

DAY 4-5: TUE 21 JUNE to WED 22 JUNE – Islay
During the next two days we tour this beautiful and tranquil island and visit a selection of  the following distilleries; BRUICHLADDICH,  BUNNAHABHAIN,  CAOL ILA, LAPHROAIG,  ARDBEG and LAGAVULIN.

Based in our Bowmore cottages we shall have breakfast in the nearby Lochside hotel. Dinner will be served at The Bridgend Hotel and Port Charlotte Hotel during these two evenings. (B,D)

DAY 6: THU 23 JUNE – Islay to Aviemore, Speyside
Today we take the morning sailing from Islay and enjoy breakfast onboard. Once back on the mainland we head northward to Speyside (The Malt Whisky Trail.) Hugging the beautiful coastline we journey northwards to Oban distillery. From Oban we head towards the picturesque town of Aviemore. Our route is punctuated with photo opportunity moments as we pass by Glencoe and Fort William, before crossing the Cairngorm mountains. A relaxing environment as we listen to Morag’s historical commentary and enjoying the spectacular scenery, before arriving at the Macdonald hotel. Once in Aviemore we shall check-in to our hotel for the next two nights. (B,D)

DAY 7-8: FRI 24 JUNE and SAT 25 JUNE – Speyside
The next two days are spent in the heartland of the Scottish Whisky Trail. GLENMORANGIE, ABERLOUR, STRATHISLA and KNOCKDHU

Whilst in Inverness and the Speyside region we will have sight-seeing options available for anyone who may wish to opt out of the distillery visits planned for today.

After a wonderful day in the heart of Speyside we take the drive across the Solway Firth to one of our favourite places to stay, Dornoch Castle. Nestled in the gateway to the most northerly parts of Scotland, Dornoch Castle offers all the atmosphere of regal Scottish hospitality. (B,D)

DAY 09: SUN 26 JUNE – Dornoch to Orkney
This morning we leave Dornoch and make our way to the Northlink Ferry service across the Pentland Firth, linking The Orkney Islands with the mainland of Scotland.  A unique two days lie ahead for us! Our abode for the next three nights will be The Kirkwall Hotel, Kirkwall. (B,D)

DAY 10-11: MON 27 JUNE – TUE 28 JUNE Orkney
During these two days we will enjoy visits to both Highland Park and Scapa distilleries along with visits to local sights, giving us a wonderful insight into the ancient and current inhabitants of these unique islands. (B,D)

DAY 12: WED 29 JUNE – Orkney to Speyside
After three memorable days we take the ferry back to the mainland and drive to Aviemore, but not before visiting the rustic environs of Pulteney Distillery.

Once back in Aviemore we shall spend one night at the Macdonald Hotel. (B,D)

DAY 13: THU 30 JUNE – Speyside to Edinburgh
This morning we leave the Highlands and head south towards Edinburgh. Once in Edinburgh we shall enjoy a panoramic city tour before checking into The Parliament House Hotel. Situated in the heart of the city centre and only yards from the shops of Princes Street, our hotel is in the perfect location to enjoy this beautiful city. Once in Edinburgh we have left the remainder of the afternoon free for you to meander through the shops and streets of Olde Edinburgh. (B)
 
DAY 14: FRI 01 JULY – Edinburgh, Glenkinchie
Our day begins with our final distillery visit. Situated in the east lowlands of Scotland, Glenkinchie boasts one of the best distillery visitor centers in Scotland.  From here we take the short ride to the site of Rosslyn Chapel. Made famous by the Hollywood movie The Da Vinci Code this church has a fascinating history. You will see mason work that cannot be found in any other church throughout the globe. Our farewell dinner will be at our hotel this evening. (B,D)

DAY 15: SAT 02 JULY – Homeward Bound
Alas we must head for the airport and our return flight to Toronto. Lunch and complimentary in-flight service will be served. As we say in Scotland, “HASTE YE BACK” (B,L)

B: BREAKFAST L: LUNCH D: DINNER

The distilleries (and visit sequence) are subject to alteration

SCOTLAND MALT WHISKY JOURNEY JUNE 18 – JULY 02, 2011 INFORMATION

INCLUDED
Air travel:  Round trip from Toronto (airfares  from other cities available upon request).

Hotels: 
Argyll Hotel, Inveraray. 1 night
Bowmore Cottages, Islay. 3 nights
Macdonald Hotel, Aviemore. 3 nights
Dornoch Castle, Dornoch. 1 night
Kirkwall Hotel, Orkney. 3 nights
Parliament House Hotel, Edinburgh. 2 nights

Meals:  Full breakfast and dinner daily with tea and coffee. One free evening in Edinburgh. Transportation: Air-conditioned luxury coach service throughout the tour. Sightseeing:  Comprehensive program and distillery visits as per itinerary, including all entrance fees. Tour Guide:  Government-licensed Tour Manager Morag Brodie will accompany the group and work harmoniously with the tour leaders. Porterage:  One large suitcase per person is allowed.  Each person is responsible for his/her other luggage. Embarkation package:  An informative package will be mailed one month prior to departure. Gratuities: All gratuities for this journey are included in the journey pricing.

NOT INCLUDED Lunches (unless mentioned in the itinerary) & Airport taxes & Fuel costs: Currently $367.

All rates based upon twin accommodation.

15 DAY JOURNEY COST

TORONTO PRICE:          $3795CAD

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $ 695CAD

For full details & registration form please contact;

CONNOISSEUR LEISURE
107 Lakeshore Drive, North Bay ON P1A 2A5
Phone: 1 877 465-3442
Fax: 1 866 826-2135
Email:  info@Connoisseurleisure.com
T.I.C.O Reg: 4344123

Visit the Companions of the Quaich at www.thequaich.com

Hey There! Football season is right around the corner. Time for Buffalo Trace Fantasy Football again.

The contest is FREE! We have weekly prizes and the grand prize winner gets a trip to Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, KY.

The website is www.buffalotracefootball.com

It’s really easy to play. Enjoy some great bourbon and cheer on your team each week. Be sure to register before the season opener between the Vikings and Saints on Thursday, September 9th.

Good luck,

Buffalo Trace
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

BALVENIE & GLENFIDDICH WHISKY TASTING – THURSDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2010

To kick off our Autumn 2010 season of whisky tastings in style we have the irrepressible Ian Murray of First Drinks Brands, an independent drinks distributor owned by distillers William Grant & Sons Ltd.  Within their portfolio of brands are both the world’s number one single malt, Glenfiddich, and the gold medal winning The Balvenie, and it is a selection of these whiskies that Ian will be presenting.

Despite the basic production processes being the same for all whisky, and the fact that these two particular Speyside distilleries are adjacent to each other and share some facilities such as the cooperage, the expressions that are produced have their own distinct characteristics. In addition, even whiskies of the same age from the same distillery can taste quite different from each other.  Why is this?  Using whiskies from both Balvenie and Glenfiddich distilleries Ian will examine this conundrum, looking at how the basic elements that whisky comes from can result in such wonderfully complex and varied tastes.

It’s always a pleasure to welcome Ian as he has a wonderful knack of being able to impart his considerable knowledge in both a witty and entertaining way (which made him a great hit at our ladies tasting earlier in the year!) and his passion for the distilleries he represents is unmistakable, so come along and join us for a great evening of whisky tasting.

*How to book*

The tasting will be at Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren (www.stantonhouse.co.uk), and will commence at 7.00 for 7.30pm. Tickets for the event are priced at just £10.00, and this includes a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting.

Most, if not all, of the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night. We accept cash, credit/debit card or cheques.

Tickets are limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. 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.

We look forward to seeing you on the night.
 
Slainte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

“The events below are for Amrut Distillery. Executive director, Rick Jagdale of Amrut will be in Los Angeles hosting the events,  now is your chance to ask him yourself about the whisky that earned 97pts in this years (2010) Whisky Bible.”

Event 1 – 1 oz pours of 6 Amrut bottlings including the new Amrut Intermediate Sherry Single Malt

Sun Oct 10th 2010,  3-5pm

Retailer:  Wine House, 2311 Cotner Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064. Ph: 310-479-3731  for tickets and the contact is Coffield or Richard

$25 price ($20 for LA Scotch Club and LA Whisky Society members) 

Event Location: Restaurant above the Wine House

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Event 2 – 1 oz pours of 6 Amrut bottlings including the new Amrut Intermediate Sherry Single Malt

Monday Oct 11th 2010 7-9pm

Retailer for tickets:  Silverlake Wine, (323) 662-9024 for tickets. Contact is George.

Event 2 Location: The Griffin Bar, 3000 Los Feliz Blvd,Los Angeles, CA 90039

Price $20

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Event 3 – ½ ounce pours of only the malts: Amrut Peated, Amrut, and Amrut Fusion

Tuesday Oct 12th 2010 6:30- 9 pm

Location: Seven Grand Bar, 515 W. 7th Street, Ste. #300, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Price $0

Contact  :  laoffice@jvsimports.com to reserve your space. 

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Looking for a Flipper, a liveblogger and a livetweeter

Whisky Live is coming to Glasgow soon and it looks set to be a great day out – especially if you impersonate me and get a £550 bottle of whisky for your troubles – but it shouldn’t just be about the people who can get along. Whisky is for sharing – and to that end I’d like you help…

I’m looking for three people – one to come along and liveblog the event, one to film with their handheld camera (a Flip or Kodak Zi8) and one to tweet from the event during the day, letting everyone know what they see.

We’ll have people tweeting away as well, but it’s always nice to have other points of view.

You don’t need to just follow me or the Whyte & Mackay team around but would be expected to cover the event and upload during the day. And I’m sure we can sneak in a little bottle of something as a thank you at the end of the day.

If you fancy it, drop an email over to our digital and social media guy before 5pm Friday September 3. craig@themasterblender.com

Richard Paterson At Work

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

There are just two days to go until the Isle of Arran 15th Anniversary celebration.  This is a festival style event, so we have lots of room to accommodate anyone hoping to attend.  So far about 30 of the initial 50 tickets have sold. The event is the Canadian launch of a special 15th Anniversary bottling. Andrew Hogan of Isle of Arran will be on hand to talk about his distillery, samples those present on a range of whiskies from the Arran distillery and sign any purchased bottles including the 15th Anniversary bottling. Kensington Wine Market has committed to 96 of the 180 bottles coming into the province, of which more than half have been pre-sold. More information on both the event and the special bottling can be found below.

I have decided to hold off on the next full Malt Messenger until after Labour Day, as I’m sure much of its readership is away on vacation. However there are a couple of tidbits which can’t wait until then. First and foremost, our Fall Tasting Schedule is now online.  All of our whisky, beer and wine tastings for September through December are now online. All the beer and whisky tastings are listed below.

Secondly, some whiskies from BenRiach which have long been out of stock—the 15 Year Old Cask Finishes—are back. All three are excellent whiskies, and exclusive to KWM. Historically the most popular was the 15 Year Old Madeira Finish, which was the impetus for us to bottle our own cask of the same.

Finally, we have single malts from all over the world at KWM, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Canada, the United States, Wales, England, Australia and now Sweden.  Sweden’s first single malt distillery, Macmyra is now available in Canada. Two different expressions are available: Mackmyra Special ’03 and Mackmyra First Edition – $66.49. I’ll include my tasting notes below.

I hope you enjoy this little Malt Messenger Bulletin, and Happy Labour Day!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

PS-Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy

Isle of Arran 15th Anniversary Celebration – Thursday September 2nd 7PM – $40

Special guest Andrew Hogan of the Isle of Arran Distillery will be in town for one night only to celebrate the distillery’s 15th Anniversary and formally launch the 15th Anniversary bottling here in Alberta. Join us at the Kensington Wine for a fun and informal evening celebrating 15 years of distillation at one of Scotland’s finest distilleries. We will formally sample 4 whiskies from the Arran portfolio (10 Year, Bourbon Cask, Moscatel Cask and 15th Anniversary) under the guidance of Andrew Hogan whilst he sheds some light on the Isle of Arran’s only distillery. After the formal tasting you will have an opportunity to get Andrew to sign a bottle of Arran for you or try a few other of the distilleries whiskies. This tasting will be a great way to start off the fall tasting season and the perfect transition into the Labour Day long weekend.

Call the store 403-283-8000, drop by or visit our website www.kensingtonwinemarket.com to register.

Isle of Arran 15th Anniversary Amontillado 1999 – $82.99

Who could believe the Isle of Arran distillery is now 15 years old.  I remember the lead up to its 10th Anniversary like it was yesterday, and the launch a year later of its first regularily available 10 year old. How the time flies! The Isle of Arran distillery has now been distilling for 15 years, and they decided to release a special edition 11 year old bottling to commemorate the event. The whisky is from refill hogsheads finished for more than a year in eight Amontialldo Sherry Butts from Spain.

“Offical Tasting Notes: Nose: The aroma is complex with hints of dark chocolate, cherries and ginger. Mint-toffee and hazelnut emerge with water. Palate: Rich and creamy on the palate with classic sherry wood notes of dried fruit and spice. A confectionery sweetness mingles beautifully with the intrinsic citrus character of the Arran Malt. Finish: Much drier on the long finish with an intriguing peppery note developing.”

The whisky will go on sale at the Kensington Wine Market first on Thursday September 2nd at the launch party with the distillery’s Andrew Hogan (for more information please see above). Only 180 bottles are coming in to the province, and at the reasonable price of $82.99 there will be a lot of demand for this dram. For the time being we are limiting pre-orders to 3 bottles per customer. Andrew Hogan will be signing bottles the night of the event. Please e-mail me if you would like to reserve some bottles.

BenRiach 15 Year Old Cask Finishes Back in Stock – $82.49/each

1.       BenRiach 15 Year Old Henrique’s Madeira Finish – Matured 14 years in Bourbon casks and finished for a full year in a Henrique’s Madeira cask, this is an excellent summer or breakfast whisky. Jim Murray said: “This is an essay in subtlety… we have one of the truly great Speysiders on our hands!” Nose: Vanilla and spices with watermelon and peaches, with a rich backdrop of Madeira and oak wood. Palate: An avalanche of butterscotch, hazelnuts, peaches and spices, with and rich Madeira. Finish: dry with concentrated barley and grape. – Exclusive to KWM

2.       BenRiach 15 Year Old Jamaican Dark Rum Finish – Matured in the traditional style in American bourbon barrels, this whisky is then ‘finished’ in Dark Rum barrels, sourced from the Caribbean island of Jamaica. During this second period of maturation the whisky derives many interesting characteristics specific to the Dark Rum barrel. Nose: toffee, spices, cinnamon & sultana w/ a backbone of rum. Palate: toffee, cinnamon, apricots & chocolate. Finish: rum & sultanas dominate the finish. – Exclusive to KWM

3.       BenRiach 15 Year Old Tawny Port Finish – Matured 14 years in Bourbon casks and finished for one full year in Tawny Port pipes. Nose: crème brulée, honey, cinnamon and coconut in harmony with rich port notes and oak wood. Palate: Butterscotch, herbs, cinnamon, peaches and sultanas, infused with rich port and oak wood notes. – Exclusive to KWM

Tasting Notes Mackmyra Single Malt

1.       Mackmyra First Edition – Nose: fresh, light, sweet and fruity with some grassy malt; Palate: light, soft and floral, apples and clean malt; Finish: light and clean with soft dry oak. – $66.49

2.       Mackmyra Special ’03 – Nose: dry smoke, creamy vanilla, faint berry fruits with grassy-herbal notes; Palate: clean and buttery with some crisp smoke, a few bitter herbs and melons; Finish: dry, sweet and lightly bitter with woody smoke. – $91.49

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If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.

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!

 You can follow me online on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy..

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
KWM Scotchguy

403-283-8000
888-283-9004
1257 Kensington Rd. NW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2N 3P8

scotchguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com