The Balvenie distillery, one of Scotland’s last family-owned distilleries and the only distillery to still practice the Five Rare Crafts of traditional whisky making, is creating a once-in-a-lifetime whisky tasting event for the Whisky on the Hudson that will feature the full Balvenie historical range.

On August 26, 2010, whisky enthusiasts will have the opportunity to taste the full historical range of The Balvenie. Dr. Whisky, The Balvenie Ambassador and curator of the event, couldn’t be more excited: “This is an unprecedented exhibit. To taste the past, present, and future Balvenie expressions, opening rare, unavailable, and new releases with the most passionate whisky lovers in the world, is a dream come true.”

Members of The Balvenie’s Warehouse 24 who attend the Whisky Guild’s Whisky on the Hudson on August 26, 2010 will gain access to a reserved VIP area featuring a near complete archive of The Balvenie Single Malts.

Currently, The Balvenie has six widely available expressions in the USA but for one night only, there will be nearly THIRTY different Balvenies on hand to taste

The Balvenie Classic
12yo Signature, Batch 1
12yo Signature, Batch 2
12yo Signature, Batch 3
14yo Golden Cask (Travel Retail Exclusive)
14yo Caribbean Rum (launching Sept 2010)
15yo Single Barrel (over TEN various single casks)
16yo Balvenie Rose (Distillery Exclusive)
all of the 17yo series, from Islay Cask (rel. 2001) to Peated Cask (launching Sept 2010)
21yo Port Wood Travel Retail (unchillfiltered, 47.6%abv)
25yo Single Barrel
The Balvenie 30
The Balvenie 1978 

… and more!

Join Warehouse 24 at www.thebalvenie.com, purchase your ticket for Whisky on the Hudson, and gain access to the whisky tasting experience of a lifetime August 26, 2010

For more information or to request press passes, please contact
Sam Simmons, The Balvenie Ambassador
ssimmons@wgrantusa.com

The Dalmore Sale Extended  Tastings & Masterclass Recap

Richard Paterson The Master Blender for Dalmore was brilliant as was the whisky that he puts in the bottle. Richard chronologically brought us from 1263 through to current times and from the 12 Y.O. through The King Alexander with some great focus on The MacKenzie bottling and on the clan itself. Richard really looks at what goes into the make-up of all The Dalmores and he insists on great depth, balance and finesse. All are amazingly palatable and friendly to the masses with tremendous complexity and elegant subtlety to keep the most sophisticated palates intrigued from the 12 Y.O. through the 18 Y. O. and the Special Editions. Two of Federal’s customers and myself were able to taste a Dalmore single malt that was 58 Years old with a selling price of more than $1000.00 per year of age (x 58 = $60,000.00 a bottle.)

The Mackenzie Clan and it’s heritage is why this limited bottling was done, the depth of the single malt has the depth of The MacKenzie Clan.

Sale Prices extended through Monday, August 9th
(Orders must be in by Saturday the 7th)

Reg Price Sale Price

Clan MacKenzie 46%
Warm and seductive with aromas of ripe plums, citrus fruits and marzipan, followed closely with ginger spice and mangos, a taste of sweet pear, bitter chocolate and crushed almonds reward the senses.
$199.99 $174.99

King Alexander Aged aromatic Oloroso butts and Madeira drums provide citrus orange, spice and nuts, whilst redolent Bourbon barrels deliver warm, vanilla notes. Rich port and Marsala woods add hints of wild berries and fleshy plums, enhanced with red fruits from vintage Cabernet Sauvignon barriques.
$234.99 $214.99

12 Y.O. Deep golden mahogany in color with orange, marmalade and aromatic spice on the nose. Elegant and rich on the palate with intense citrus and hints of sweet vanilla pod to finish enhanced by increased sherry wood for an aftertaste of great complexity.
$57.99 $51.99

Gran Reserva Elegant and refined with hints of citrus and autumn fruits on the nose. marmalade and Christmas cake tantalize the palate with subtle hints of roasted coffee and chocolate. This is followed with ripe oranges and lemon peel, giving delicate, zesty top notes.
$74.99 $67.99

15 Y.O. A rich and aromatic heart full of dried spices, cloves, cinnamon and ginger with a concentrated citrus mouth-feel to tantalize your tongue and an abundant aftertaste of spice to reward the palate.
$89.99 $84.99

18 Y.O. Aged aromatic Oloroso butts and Madeira drums provide citrus orange, spice and nuts, whilst redolent Bourbon barrels deliver warm, vanilla notes. Rich port and Marsala woods add hints of wild berries and fleshy plums, enhanced with red fruitsfrom vintage Cabernet Sauvignon barriques.
$164.99 $154.99

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits

——————————————————————————–

Email: joe@federalwine.com
Phone: 617-367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

Award Winning Cookbook Authors Sheila McConachie and Graham Harvey to ShareWhisky and Food Pairing Knowledge on SipSmokeSavor.com website.

San Diego, California, July 25, 2010 – The creators of www.SipSmokeSavor.com are delighted to announce that Sheila McConachie and Graham Harvey have agreed to guest author a series of articles for their website. These masters of scotch pairing co-wrote “The Whisky Kitchen – 100 ways with Whisky and Food”. This book, a culinary love letter to Scotland and its native spirit, won the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Award in 2009 for Best Book in the World for Cooking with Beer, Wine and Spirits.

McConachie and Harvey’s passion for their Scottish heritage, its countryside and dishes “terroir” is also evident in the inspired menu that puts their Craggan Mill Restaurant on the “short list” for best Highland dining experience. Craggan Mill won Eat Scotland’s 2010 Silver Award for excellence in food and service and has been awarded 2 Rosettes from AA Dining Awards for three consecutive years. In 2007, Graham Harvey was named Spirit of Speyside Chef of the Year. In 2009 Graham was admitted as a Master Chef of the Association Culinaire Française and earlier this year Sheila was awarded the title Master Chef of Great Britain. The couple recently was asked to judge the Scottish Heat of The Escoffier Challenge 2010, one of the world’s most prestigious culinary competitions.

Beginning in July these award winning chefs will showcase Scotch whisky as both an accompaniment to a fine meal, as well as an ingredient to add depth and flavor. You will find their series of articles in the “Food Section” of www.SipSmokeSavor.com, a website devoted to the pursuit of the perfect single malt pairing.

“The Whisky Kitchen – 100 ways with Whisky and Food” is available online through a link on the SipSmokeSavor.com website (see section Malts/Bookshelf) or in book stores ISBN 978 0 9554145 7 2.

Graham and Sheila’s Craggan Mill Restaurant is on the web at www.cragganmill.co.uk.

August Events:

August 1st 4:00 PM – Mega Scotch Tasting
August 5th 7:00 PM – Mega Scotch Tasting
August 19th 7:00 PM- Scotch Tasting feat. Master of Whisky Martin Duffy of Diageo

Dundee Dell 5007 Underwood Ave. Omaha NE 402.553.9501

Email Pat (patg@dundeedell.com) or Monique (monique@dundeedell.com) anytime.

For the whisky enthusiast a Penderyn Masterclass is a must! You don’t need to be a whisky connoisseur to enjoy the experience. Each Masterclass is conducted by one of our expert guides or Gillian Howell, our Distiller.

Held in small groups to ensure that each person gets the maximum benefit from the learning experience, a Penderyn Masterclass begins with a short “getting to know you” session, during which everyone can relax and enjoy some refreshments.
Then it’s time to start.  Your guide first takes you through the Malt Whisky Production Process, explaining each step from malting through to bottling.  The depth of the session depends on you.  You have the opportunity to sit back and listen or to ask as many questions as you wish – it’s your time with our experts!

At this stage we also cover the various still designs and distillation processes used by Scottish, Irish and Welsh distillers, and you’ll begin to learn that Penderyn is unique.  You will learn about the different types of whisky from single malt through to bourbon and Tennessee whiskies.

Next for the fun and games, in which you take part.  We won’t reveal here what we ask you to do, but you’ll enjoy it!

It’s soon time to visit the Penderyn Distillery shop floor and to venture into our still room, where everything should now fall into place.  Then you’re off to the bottling hall to see the final product (we won’t make you wait 5 years for the spirit to mature!).  You see our bourbon and Madeira barrels and your guide is there to answer your questions throughout.

Back in the Boardroom, you now experience nosing and tasting sessions where you are given various expressions of Penderyn – see if you can identify them all.

Your Penderyn Masterclass ends with a gift (included in the price) and a Masterclass booklet. Your guide then takes you to the exhibition area and tasting room so that you can browse at your leisure and sample more of our products if you wish. All in all, an experience not to be missed!

Classes are held by appointment at least twice a month and cost £45.00 per person (to include a gift). Parties of four or more receive a reduction. Why not buy a Penderyn Masterclass as a gift.

Masterclass Schedule

July 2010
Saturday 3rd July 10:30 – full
Friday 9th July 10:30
Saturday 17th July 10:30 – full
Friday 23rd July 10:30
Saturday 31st July 10:30

August 2010
Thursday 5th August 10:30
Saturday 14th August 10:30

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.

Upcoming Whisky Dinner

(From Sam at Impex) We are going to launch Chieftain’s at the San Francisco City Club on August 12th.  It will be a four course dinner featuring the following:

ISLE OF SKYE 8yr

and…

“Since 1936, Ian Macleod Distillers, through its dedication to tradition and quality, has amassed an unrivaled cask stock from Scotland’s many distilleries. This enviable collection includes extremely rare malts, some from closed or mothballed distilleries.”

ALLT A BHAINNE 31 year old (Speyside)

GLEN MORAY 18 year old (Speyside)

PORT ELLEN 25 year old ( Islay )

LINKWOOD 16 year old (Speyside)

GLENROTHES 14 year old Burgundy Finish (Speyside)

DALMORE 11 year old Madeira Finish ( Highland )

The above will be paired with food prepared by the San Francisco City Club’s talented Chef Michael Munoz .

For more information go to: 

Impex Beverages

www.impexbev.com

The Whisky Shop (Tel 415-989-1030)

www.whiskyshopusa.com  

August 12th / 6:00pm – 8:30pm. Whiskies of the World Whisky Dinner with Ed Kohl  @ The San Francisco City Club, 155 Sansome, 10th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104. Reservations Required – $70.00. Featuring Seven of Chieftains Rare Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and Isle of Skye.

Only 88 Chances Left to Win a Once in a Lifetime Irish Whiskey Experience

Master of Malt are offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to win a free trip for two to the Cooley distillery in Ireland. The prize includes flights; wining and dining in Dublin; and two nights stay at a luxurious hotel.

Following the competition’s unprecedented success, there are only 88 remaining chances to enter, and only a few days left (the competition closes at 6pm on the 1st August 2010).

The lucky winner and a friend will be flown out to Ireland from any UK airport. They will be treated to an exclusive tour of the Cooley distillery, a whiskey tasting, two nights stay at a luxurious hotel, wining and dining for both nights, as well as a very special personalised bottle of Tyrconnell whiskey, and a bottle of the brand new Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve. It’s incredibly simple to enter; all entrants must do is buy any full-sized (70cl) bottle of Cooley whiskey from the Master of Malt website (www.masterofmalt.com).

The Cooley distillery has a large range, made up of some astonishing whiskeys, including Tyrconnell, Connemara, Kilbeggan, Greenore and Locke’s. Entrants will receive one entry for every bottle they buy, and the cheapest eligible whiskey is Kilbeggan, at just £17.95. Great value for money for a whiskey that tastes of creamy, sweet malt, and one that offers the chance to win a once in a lifetime prize!

The draw will close at 6pm on the 1st August and the lucky winner will be named on or before the 7th August 2010. This really is the ultimate Irish whiskey experience, and one not to be missed.

Thanks to the limited number of chances to enter, participants have a very high chance of winning the competition. Because of this, the draw is likely to sell out before the closing date.

Read more about the competition on the Master of Malt Whisky Blog or browse the full range of Cooley Whiskeys.

About Master of Malt

– Established in 1985

– One of the UK’s leading online whisky and spirits retailers

– A highly rated independent bottler, all of whose single cask whiskies scored over 90 points in the Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2009.

Follow Master of Malt on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/masterofmalt

Read the Master of Malt blog: http://www.masterofmalt.com/blog

Whiskies of the World, Saturday, March 26, 2011

From the World of Whiskies Team;

We’ve received plenty of constructive feedback on the last WoW event and we just want to let you know that we’re listening.  That’s why we’ll be back on the San Francisco Belle for a proven good time in 2011. With more elbow room to get around, better acoustics to talk whisky, a dinner buffet on the first floor, tasting halls on the second and third floors, and a top deck reserved for those who like to enjoy a cigar with their whisky, you’ll savor the entire experience.  We have also arranged to have Masterclasses for the first time at WoW on the boat. We will utilize a tented section of the top deck along with a second boat. We get that space can make all the difference in how our guests experience WoW and we believe we’ve found the right formula for bringing so many tasters together for what has become a truly world class event. The next WoW will be better than ever!

Summer Sale On Tickets will start in August and we will be issuing fewer VIP tickets, which will undoubtedly go quickly. Along with an improved check in system there will be no more long lines for our VIP ticket holders. We want to give you the first hour to taste the special whiskies our brands plan to pour for you. You’ll have more time to ask questions of the whisky makers and their representatives before the rest of our guests join in on the fun.

Special Rates at Hotel Le Meridien (4 Star)
If you’re going to be traveling from out of town, or live in San Francisco and just want to stay close to the event, Le Meridien is offering discount room rates of $159 to all participants in the expo. Le Meridien is located at Battery and Clay at the edge of San Francisco’s Financial District and just a few short blocks from the San Francisco Belle. Call, 415.296.2900 or go on-line www.lemeridien.com/sanfrancisco and use the promo code “WOW” to secure your room at this special rate.

Visit Whiskies of the World at http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/wow/index.php?/index/

The Kentucky Bourbon & BBQ MusicFest kicks off Friday., July 30 at Johnston Field at Centre Square with a concert featuring 100% Angus (AC/DC Tribute) and other acts. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the gate and can be purchased online in advance.

On Saturday, enjoy a BBQ People’s Choice contest, live entertainment all day, the Heart of Kentucky Cornhole Classic and a classic car, truck & motorcycle show downtown.

www.visitlebanonky.com