Take the ultimate Whisky Adventure!

Experience the thrill of making New Spirit, or Single Malt Whisky from start to finish in a traditional Outer Hebridean Still.

Go back to the origins of distilling whisky, as it was in Scotland prior to tourism and technical intervention.  

In winter, on an island on the edge of Europe, away from moblie phones, CCTV and the strife of work and business is a real world of creativity. Water, barley and a touch of magic. 

We are offering you the opportunity to come to the Hebridean Isle of Lewis, to Abhainn Dearg Distillery and make your own New Spirit to take away in a specially made 30 Litre whisky or wine cask! 

Not only that, but you can make it in an authentic Outer Hebridean Still, one that was once classed as illicit!  The still was donated to Abhainn Dearg and we have decided to make good use of it!

This is a rare opportunity as we can only accommodate three people at any one time, also it’s the only way of guaranteeing a purchase of Abhainn Dearg New Spirit, or leave it with us to get your own Single Malt!

Here’s what we have to offer:

A three day experience at Abhainn Dearg:

Monday.
Arrive on Lewis on, spend the night in the main town of Stornoway

Tuesday. 
Set off for Uig and Abhainn Dearg Distillery.
Day 1:  Meet the team before getting some real hands on experience on how to start up the traditional still.

Wednesday.
Day 2:  Start the traditional still and become involved in the working of the main distillery, mash day!

Thursday.
Day 3:  Warehousing and casking your spirit, sort out shipping, getting the last spirit run from the traditional still.
Head back to spend your last night on the island in Stornoway.

Friday.
Depart the Isle of Lewis.

http://www.abhainndearg.co.uk/

Please see invitation below to a special media preview of the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection with Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris on Monday, November 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Esquire SOHO Penthouse. Following the tasting, feel free to enjoy the rest of the evening at the Esquire SOHO as the finals of the Woodford Reserve Manhattan experience will be taking place from 7:30pm to 10:00pm. We hope you can join us. 

Svend Jansen

PR Manager – Woodford Reserve, Canadian Mist, Early Times & Old Forester

Brown-Forman

850 Dixie Highway

Louisville, KY 40210

Office, (502) 774-7825

Mobile, (502) 744-0462

svend_jansen@b-f.com

Mike Walsh of The Lone Wolf (63 Main Street, Amherst, MA, USA) has said that he’s putting on a Dalmore dinner night, this weekend, Saturday October 24.

The Menu

First Course
Mesclun Greens with toasted walnuts, golden beets, caramelized onions, Great Hill blue cheese, and balsamic vinegar.

The Dalmore 12 Year Old
The signature flavor of this award-winning 12-year malt comes from marrying select whiskies matured in 50 percent American white oak and 50 percent Oloroso Sherry casks. The appearance is deep gold with aromas of citrus and almonds, plus a subtle hint of chocolate. The taste is a pleasant combination of citrus, sherry and spice, offering the most heat of the Dalmore lineup, as befitting the youngest malt. The finish is moderate in length and distinguished by subtle flavors of oaky vanilla.

Second Course
Saffron, Leek, Artichoke Risotto Cakes with Blackened Ahi Tuna-topped with ginger hollandaise sauce

The Dalmore Gran Reserva
A lively expression of malt whisky derived from the combination of 60 percent sherry wood and 40 percent American white oak-aged malts ranging from 10 to 15 years of age. The appearance is soft gold to mahogany and the bouquet is primarily citrus. The flavors of malt, marmalade, roasted coffee and dark chocolate combine to create a distinctive, complex character. It finishes with citrus and a light touch of peat.

Entree
Southwest-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin topped with applejack-fig drizzle, served with mashed turnip and collard greens

The Dalmore 15 Year Old
A popular, award-winning malt, the 15 Year relies heavily on its wooden casks infused with three rare Sherries. The appearance is mahogany, with aromas of citrus and spice. The taste is well-balanced, with citrus flavors coming to the front and a long finish of Sherry wood, imparted from the casks.

Dessert
Pear Tart with Scotch sauce and raspberry coulis

The Dalmore 1263 King Alexander III
This tasty scotch combines aged malts matured in a range of wooden casks, including French Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels, Kentucky bourbon barrels and port pipes. United by Master Distiller Richard Paterson, the result is a deep, rich spirit. The color is deep amber with reddish highlights. The aroma is complex with citrus, floral and oaky notes that evolve over time. The taste is even more complex, as each style of cask comes through in the flavor. Flavors include citrus, almonds, berries and vanilla, among others, and the finish is absurdly long.

Afterthought
Dalmore 21-Year-Old
Mature. Candied peels, melted white chocolate, fresh fruit salad. The oak takes things into the sauna (pine). With water become deeper: honeydew melon, currant, heather. A seamless flow of all the flavours on the nose. Beautifully balanced. Structure and softness in perfect harmony.

The event is $60 and anyone looking for more details should get in touch with the restaurant at 413.256.4643

Dear All,
 
With just under 3 weeks left to go to The Whisky Show in the Guildhall ( www.thewhiskyshow.com ), the excitement is really building for us, as the already fabulous line-up of whiskies seems to be expanding on a daily basis.

Tickets for either Friday 6th, Saturday 7th November are available from the shop in Vinopolis or can be booked online at http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/G-490.aspx  For the really dedicated, two day tickets are also available (which represent a considerable saving over the individual daily price) and we think that they’d make amazing early Xmas presents for the whisky lover in your life!

Also, for those of you that didn’t make it along to the ‘staff picks’ tasting last Monday, we’d just like to make you aware that our latest addition to the award winning Elements of Islay range Pe1 (our first ever bottling of Port Ellen) is almost completely sold out, so if you were considering getting one of the 240 bottles that came from a single sherry cask, we wouldn’t leave it too much longer!

Finally, we’ve got the following tastings lined up for November and they’re going to be:-

Monday 16th November – Bourbon with Jim Rutledge from Four Roses (30 people maximum)

This is a genuinely rare chance to meet one of the legends of Bourbon whisky making. Jim has been the Master Distiller at Four Roses for almost 15 years and despite the fact that he’s also a globe-trotting ambassador for them, only one of us in the shop has ever met him (very briefly) during a visit to the UK.

Monday 30th November – Diageo Single Malts with Colin ‘THANK-YOU!’ Dunn (45 people maximum)

Right now we haven’t decided exactly what we’re doing on this event (cloak and dagger stuff at the moment) and, frankly, it’ll be some awesome whiskies from Diageo, being presented by the ‘effervescent’ Colin Dunn so you’ll definitely want to get to this!

TICKETS FOR THESE ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET (SO PLEASE DON’T RING.) WE’LL BE SENDING A MORE DETAILED E-MAIL NEXT WEEK REGARDING THESE EVENTS

We hope to see you soon, and the offer of advice and a dram is open to all who come to see us!

Kind regards

The Team

STOP PRESS:- DIAGEO 2009 SPECIAL RELEASES ARE DUE INTO STOCK SHORTLY. ORDERS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN FOR ANY OF THE RANGE, PORT ELLEN 9TH RELEASE AND BRORA 30YO WILL SELL OUT VERY QUICKLY AND PRE-ORDERING IS STRONGLY ADVISED

The Whisky Exchange

Vinopolis

1 Bank End

London

SE1 9BU

Tel:-  +44 (0) 207 403 8688

Fax:- +44 (0) 207 403 8788

e-mail:-   vinopolis@thewhiskyexchange.com

website:- www.thewhiskyexchange.com

From Laphroaig Distillery;

I hope this letter finds you well as the evenings draw in. I am writing to all our Canadian Friends of Laphroaig to let you know that we will be at Whisky Live in Toronto this Friday, October 23rd.
 
Our North American Ambassador Simon Brooking (whom I’m sure some of you will already know) will also be conducting a Laphroaig masterclass suitably called ‘For Peat’s Sake’ at 4:30 – 5:30. This will involve a very special tasting of our new Laphroaig 25 Year Old!

 
The details are as follows:
 
Whisky Live Toronto
October 23, 2009
Metro Toronto Convention Centre- Halls F & G
255 Front Street West,
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2W6
Canada
http://www.whiskylive.com

Masterclass:
Class name – For Peat’s Sake!
Presenter – Simon Brooking
Time – 4:30-5:30pm
Room: 1

Masterclass Ticket: $25, in addition to the entrance.

VIP Ticket: 4pm to 10pm $95, including Whisky Live tasting glass, show guide, 8 vouchers and food. On door price $110.

Evening Ticket: 7pm to 10pm $50, including Whisky Live tasting glass, show guide, 4 vouchers and food.

On door price $60

We will also be at the ‘Hopscotch’ event in Vancouver in November – details below:

Hopscotch Vancouver
November 20th, 2009
1755 Cottrell St., Vancouver, BC
Consumer portion 5pm – 10pm
Tickets: $40

If you do go to either event then please let me know what you think, you can email me at info@laphroaig.com or even tweet me for any of you on Twitter, my twitter username is @laphroaigwhisky.
 
Finally, for those who missed our live Laphroaig webcast on 25th September from Kentucky the show is now available at www.laphroaig.com/live

Slàinte,

John Campbell

PRIVATE CHRISTMAS EVENTS

What makes a Christmas to remember?
Catching up with old friends, celebrating with colleagues or spending time with family? How about indulging in sensational seasonal comforts whilst being pampered as well as entertained?

Christmas at the Society is when we shine. From the twinkling lights and roaring fires of our venues to the warmth and depth of our single cask, single malt whiskies. For us Christmas is the delight of making your event a truly memorable occasion.

For an unforgettable Christmas, indulge in the very best of the Society:

Festive Private Dining at Society’s venues in Edinburgh and Leith. This Christmas, a discreet occasion from £40 incl. View our delicious menu http://tinyurl.com/ygotbxn

High-Spirited Private Receptions at Society venues in Edinburgh and Leith. This Christmas, a relaxed occasion from £30 incl.

‘Festive-Spirit’ Private Whisky Tastings at Society venues in London, Leith and Edinburgh. This Christmas, a spirited occasion from £35 incl.

Bringing the Society ‘Festive-Spirit’ to YOU. This Christmas  entertain clients and guests at a location of your choice and receive a complimentary whisky tasting for your staff. Conditions apply.

SPECIAL OFFER… Book before Sat 31 Oct and receive complimentary wine and whisky for your event. Conditions apply.

More details (and earlier-bird offers):  www.smwsevents.co.uk  

Events Teams:

Edinburgh       0131 555 2266 or email events@smws.com
London              0207 831 4447 or email london@smws.com
 

Spirits…but not as we know them

With Halloween lurking just round the corner we have just the thing to make you scream (for more!).  Join us in the subterranean vaults beneath our very own Society Vaults for a terrifyingly good evening of superb single cask single malts, a sensational three-course dinner and tales of the unexpected with Mercat Tours of Edinburgh. 

Find out more  http://tinyurl.com/yftf2dt

October 22nd 5 anonymous Islay malts 40% No.1 :

MacLeod’s 8yo single malt
Frasers Reserve single malt
Signatory 5yo single malt
Wholly Smoke blended malt (Oddbins)
Clan Denny 5yo (Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Bunnahabhain and Bowmore)
plus a special guest : Brora 25yo 56.3% bottled 2008 3000 bottles

Tollbooth Tavern, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 24th September 2009 7.30pm
£20/17 (discount for first timers/members)

Check http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk for further details on these tastings as well as Bladnoch forum- events- Canongate tastings

A Gordan & MacPhail ~ Benromach tasting /seminar hosted by The Whisky Shop in San Francisco. 

Details:

Time:  6:30pm
Date:  Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Location:  E & O Trading Company, 314 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA  94108
For Reservations:  415-989-1030
*Special Guest:  Matt Chivian “Keeper of the Quaich”  
List of Malts:  Tormore, Rosebank, Glen Keith, Mannochmore, Lochside, Highland Park 8yr, Benromach Traditional, Benromach Peat Smoke and Bruichladdich.

Visit the Whisky Shop at http://www.whiskyshopusa.com/

MAKE EVERY YEAR COUNT. OPEN THE DOOR TO RICH POSSIBILITIES.

Glenfiddich invites you to a very special tasting experience – the second in a series of fascinating “Taste and Talk” events. Join Glenfiddich’s Global Brand Ambassador, Ian Millar, as he takes you through an exclusive tasting of our distinctive range of single malt Scotch whiskies. See the value of a year come to life when you meet with Richard Poplak, writer, traveler and pop culture enthusiast who will share anecdotes from his own personal journey towards excellence.

WHERE:   One Up Restaurant & Lounge
130 Dundas Street West, 2nd Floor, Toronto ON
WHEN:  Thursday, October 22nd, 2009; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
RSVP:   glenfiddich@ddbcanada.com / 416-963-4297

A DAY IS A THOUGHT. A YEAR IS A PHILOSOPHY.

Richard Poplak truly embodies the Glenfiddich philosophy. His deep appreciation and understanding of the value of time was put to the test when, in 2006, he set out on a two-year odyssey throughout the Middle East to research and writeThe Sheikh’s Batmobile: In Pursuit of American Pop-Culture in the Muslim World. The purpose of his journey? To see what becomes of his, and North America’s, pop culture obsessions when they make their way into the Muslim world. Every day brought a new challenge and adventure, allowing Richard to experience life and providing him with a wealth of extraordinary stories to share.

A DAY IS A TASTE. A YEAR IS APPRECIATION.

Originally crafted in 1887, Glenfiddich’s philosophy is to make every year count by making the most of the possibilities that every year brings. Each aged Glenfiddich expression provides a taste of the rich experience that a long history produces.

Dear All,

Due to the forthcoming Whisky Show in November (see www.thewhiskyshow.com for details) we’ve decided to play it a little quieter in the tastings department for October, so here’s what’s on offer…

On Monday 12th October at least 3 of the reprobates (possibly all 4) that masquerade as Whisky Exchange staff will be putting their reputations on the line by picking 6 whiskies that have slipped ‘under-the-radar’ for many of you. Most will be (relatively) new releases or Travel Retail Only bottlings and the exact line-up is subject to Queensbury Rules in the car-park, but we’re pretty darn confident that they won’t be disappointing!

There will be a maximum of 30 places for this event and tickets will be £25 each with a limit of 2 per person. These will be available by ringing us on Monday 5th October at 3pm and will only be confirmed with payment.

———————————————————————-

Also throughout October we’ve got the following company to do the Saturday ‘Barrel-Tops’, so feel free to call in for a chat and a taster or two..

October 17th      Connemara: – A heavily peated Irish Whisky! Stephen Teeling will be her to show off the new look and convert a few Islayphiles

We hope that there’s something there for everyone and look forward to seeing you very soon

Kind regards

The Team

The Whisky Exchange

Vinopolis

1 Bank End

London

SE1 9BU

Tel:-  +44 (0) 207 403 8688

Fax:- +44 (0) 207 403 8788

e-mail:-   vinopolis@thewhiskyexchange.com

website:- www.thewhiskyexchange.com