Dear Customer

Some of the new releases are big on Islay influence, plus some extreme counter points, with a few really sweet Sherry casks from Speyside and the Highlands, all of which we hope will have a real interest for you and your clients. Amongst the Cigar Malts you may wish to look out for a rather unique 20 year old Ardbeg within our OLD & RARE selection.

Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK

OMC2014 BENRIACH 15 YEARS
Nose: Big, round, full of dark fruits/sugary grist + honey.
Palate: Spicy with macerated red fruits, vanilla, toast + barley.
Finish: Now more toasted & citric with a soft mocha finale. (F)

OMC2029 IMPERIAL 16 YEARS
Nose: clean & fresh carrying a fruity (distinctly pear drops) quality
Palate: Sweet & fruity – round & creamy – more pears, now in syrup!
Finish: Mellow, round – replicating the fresh nose & palate (J)

OMC2022 LAPHROAIG 18 YEARS
Nose: Distinctly peated with a fresh/clean/sweet ozone style.
Palate: Initially soft and sugary building to phenols/ash/cinders.
Finish: Now lightly smoked +cough drop type warming spices. (F)

OMC2015 CAOL ILA 21 YEARS
Nose: Opens smoky before dry hay appears + burnt cookies + liquorice
Palate: Initially sweet + damp ashes with a honey coated BBQ grilled style
Finish: Replicates the sweet & ashy character + a long tail of light smoke (J)

OMC2016 TAMDHU SHERRY MATURED 21 YEARS
Nose: Rich with leather, walnuts and a sweet, toffee’d character
Palate: Mouthcoating – carrying rich spices + an oaky/tannic quality
Finish: Long & spicy – still tannic + an attractive cedar wood style (J)

OMC2013 BEN NEVIS 40 YEARS
Nose: Sweetly fruited + big with dry smoke and a coffee style
Palate: Lightly peated (unusually) with warming dark spices + liquorice
Finish: Now dryly spiced + toasted barley and more smoky peat. (F)

OLD MALT CASK – CIGAR MALT Tasting Notes – for the Macduff and Caol Ila follow

OMC2025 MACDUFF SHERRY MATURED 10 YEARS
Nose: Big, sweet, citric and toffee’d
Palate: Chewy, vanilla’d – with muscovado sugar.
Finish: Barley sugar, spice and sweet dark mocha (F)

OMC2026 CAOL ILA 7 YEARS
Nose: Sweetly peated + hot bbq ashes and soft smoke
Palate: Sweet & smoky + a caramelised burnt fruit style
Finish: Honeyed and ashy with a smoke – and – spices character (J)

OLD & RARE Tasting Notes:

OAR0133 MORTLACH SHERRY MATURED 18 YEARS

This Mortlach opens on the nose with a rich polished wood character and runs to a spicy, caramelised oranges and almond cake quality. The palate is viscous and mouth coating being richly spiced, carrying a flamed orange peel, full “chewy” style. The finish is long, still spicy with warm orange zest and a chocolate richness plus a dark roasted malt character. (J)

OAR0131 ARDBEG 20 YEARS

Initially we have a subtle Islay nose – which warms sweetly to citrus, smoke and salty rock pools in summer. Palatewise it starts saline and dry but held there – the phenols develop plus an interesting (tongue tingling) sprinkle of salt and sweet drifting smoke. The long finish is smokier again – with tar, cinders, oily rags and ash much in evidence – with a great length to it. (F)

OAR0129 LAPHROAIG SHERRY MATURED 22 YEARS

Fragrant, perfumed, and big in a sweet (lightly fruited) and barley style all warming to later suggestions of tar and cinders on the nose. On the palate much more tar is apparent – with chimney soot, barley sweetness and creosote all to the fore. The finish is long, medicated, with peat and more of that same ashy, tarry and creosoted character. (F)

OAR0127 HIGHLAND PARK 33 YEARS

Round, full, spiced and with a (dark) fruit style initially on the nose – it warms later to citrus and old fashioned furniture polish. Palatewise – it is big – immediately and warmly spiced with a camphor type interesting domination – softening to vanilla toffee – now replicated on the early finish which turns once again into a spicy and full warmth. (F)

We believe there are some big interesting Malts within this month’s selection – “bigger” than normal which seems to be the way they have come through our system this month – and we look forward to share some of these on.

All best wishes,

Fred H Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com

UNVEILING A MASTERPIECE

Pride 1981 is Glenmorangie’s ultimate expression to date

Glenmorangie reveals Pride 1981, its most sublime single malt whisky to date. 

Characterised by the longest extra-maturation period of any Glenmorangie expression, Pride 1981, a 28 year old whisky, is available in an extremely limited edition of 1,000 pieces. It is presented in a striking crystal decanter and wooden case conceived to highlight this exceptional whisky.

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is a whisky beyond comparison, the culmination of 28 years of passion, patience and artistry. Glenmorangie’s Whisky Creation Team, headed by Dr. Bill Lumsden, takes immense pride in the whisky creation process, continually striving to achieve new levels of excellence and innovation with each whisky expression.  It is this very attitude, the impetus to go ‘above and beyond’ that has given birth to Glenmorangie Pride 1981.

The genesis began in October 1981, when the original whisky of Pride 1981 was distilled and selected to mature in Glenmorangie’s finest oak casks.  As the years of maturation progressed, this whisky was marked out as being very special. By 1999, the liquid had transformed into an exquisite vintage 18 Year Old, a single malt Scotch whisky of serious distinction. Dr Bill was inspired by the very quality of this whisky and decided to push himself further to craft an even more outstanding liquid. He proceeded to acquire an extremely

limited number of Sauternes ‘Barriques’ from the vineyard of Château d’Yquem – and thus conceived the plan to create this masterpiece.

Often the subject of fame and fable, the Château d’Yquem Sauternes is celebrated for its exceptionally heavenly taste and renowned for its complexity, concentration and sweetness. Château d’Yquem is the only wine from the Sauternes region to be awarded the Premier Cru Supérieur rating, a classification for Bordeaux wines, and is deemed to be a class above the rest.

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 was extra-matured in these Sauternes casks for a further ten years – the longest period any Glenmorangie whisky has ever undergone extra-maturation. The resulting liquid is a rich, opulent deep gold colour.

Dr. Bill Lumsden comments, “The opportunity to age this superb 18 Year Old for ten years in Château d’Yquem casks was too exciting to pass up. The resulting liquid, one of our most mature to date, is characterised by rich flavours of sumptuous desserts, and undertones of oak tannins, resulting from the extra-maturation process. We are always looking to push boundaries and innovate, and Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is the pinnacle of those efforts.”

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is a truly beguiling whisky with captivating aromas and flavours. The influence of the Sauternes casks produces the delectable scent and full texture of desserts such as apple tart, with sprinklings of Demerara sugar, nutmeg and aniseed. These are underpinned by rich oak tones, reminiscent of antique furniture. 

A splash of water releases a myriad of exotic fruits and spices – sherbet lemons, melon, kiwi, with background notes of liquorice and roasted chestnut.  Glenmorangie Pride 1981 leaves a long, lingering finish, succulent and sweet with sultanas, toasted almonds and the memory of lemon and coconut desserts.

To celebrate the release of this exceptional whisky The Glenmorangie Company has commissioned two design talents to create a unique objet d’art as packaging. Just as the liquid of Pride 1981 fuses the traditions of whisky creation with viniculture, the packaging unites the contrasting crafts of glass crystal and wood design.

The curvaceous Baccarat crystal decanter is the work of talented French designer Laurence Brabant. It is encased in a wooden box conceived by the Dutch designer, Wouter Scheublin, a rising star of furniture design. The case has a classic beauty that fuses form with function and glides open, revealing a sensual crystal decanter which holds the deep gold whisky.

Designers Brabant and Scheublin were commissioned after a long, in-depth international search. Dozens of portfolios were reviewed, but ultimately these two were selected, not only because of the compelling and exciting contrast of their styles, but for the values they share with Glenmorangie: A deep passion for innovation, a dedication to craftsmanship and the ambition to constantly strive for the best.

Due to the rare nature of this precious whisky, only 1,000 decanters of Glenmorangie Pride 1981 will be available worldwide, starting from 1st July 2011.

About Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie single malt Scotch whisky is one of the famous whiskies in the world. It originates from the far north of Scotland in the Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation.

About The Glenmorangie Company

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces two single malt brands – Glenmorangie Highland single malt whisky and Ardbeg Islay single malt whisky. 

Responsible Drinking

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in-line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Dear Customer

This month we have two (2) new bottlings under the PROVENANCE label.

Tasting Notes for PROVENANCE

PRV0695 MORTLACH MONTILLA FINISH 8 YEARS

Opens fresh and sweet carrying a fruity quality – warm pears in syrup – and then develops to a toffee and milk chocolate character. The palate is creamy, mouth coating, overwhelmingly spiced and sweet. The finish is long, still spiced and carries a liqueur chocolate style plus a late liquorice quality. (J)

PRV0701 BEN NEVIS SHERRY FINISHED 12 YEARS

Attractively – and sweetly – spiced on the nose as it pours … it warms in a more concentrated style carrying a gristy quality plus some distinct citric fruit. On the soft, easy going palate it develops to cough drop warming spices, vanilla, and macerated dark fruit coated in a Demerara sugariness. Soft camphor and other spices run long on the finish carrying a real barley influence. (F)

We certainly like these releases but more importantly we hope you similarly do.

All best wishes,

Fred H Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com

THE GLENLIVET INSPIRES WITH LUXURIOUS NEW PACKAGING

The Glenlivet, the world’s No 2 single malt Scotch whisky, has revealed striking new packaging to provide the ‘single malt that started it all’ with an enhanced luxurious and sophisticated look, in line with its position in the super premium spirits category.

The new packaging to be implemented across the core range, comprising The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve, 18 Year Old and Nàdurra, will remain recognisably The Glenlivet, yet offer a more contemporary, elegant look. Available in all markets including duty free, the new bottles are enhanced with higher shoulders, a shorter neck and an enlarged base giving them a stronger presence, while the embossed stamp of the whisky’s founding family ‘George & J. G. Smith’, continues to portray the legacy and heritage of The Glenlivet. As a strong point of reference for consumers, the cartouche, which indicates the brands history dating back to 1824, has been given a more prominent position on a raised platform.

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old bottle will retain its iconic green colour, recognised by consumers the world over, while the 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve will move to a clear bottle for the first time to showcase the rich golden colour of the whisky. Both expressions will be presented in a new, luxury carton with premium cues to increase gift appeal, while additional information highlighting the whisky’s quality credentials will benefit both aficionados and new drinkers.

The packaging upgrade has seen The Glenlivet 18 Year Old elevated to align with the ultra-premium and prestige expressions within the range including The Glenlivet 21 Year Old and The Glenlivet XXV. Changes to the 18 Year Old bottle design, including the heavier base, signify its status as the most awarded expression in the range and the whisky favoured by many distillery workers. The new bottle is housed in a significantly upgraded permanent gift box.

In addition, The Glenlivet Nàdurra, the non-chill filtered expression in the range, will also be presented in a new, bolder bottle and feature the logos and icons seen across the range while maintaining the individual character of the artisanal, highly crafted whisky.

Neil Macdonald, Brand Director for Malts at Chivas Brothers, comments: “The Glenlivet is recognised by whisky aficionados around the world as an exquisite, premium whisky, and our new elegant packaging will confidently reflect this quality with its striking new shape and luxury cues.

“The stylish bottles and gift cartons will offer increased on-shelf stand-out for the on and off trade and will support our ambition to see The Glenlivet become the No 1 selling malt whisky in the world.”

Since 2005, The Glenlivet has been the biggest contributor to the global single malt category and is only the second single malt to achieve sales of over 600,000 9l cases. In 2010 The Glenlivet completed its £10 million distillery expansion increasing production capacity by 75% to meet global demand.

Note

The Glenlivet is currently the No 2 single malt Scotch whisky in the world and the No 1 single malt Scotch whisky in the US – the world’s largest malt whisky market. Crafted in the remote Livet Valley since 1824, it is the only whisky with the unchallengeable right to be called The Glenlivet.

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.

For further information visit www.chivasbrothers.com

Whisky ‘old blood’ releases new dram

A D Rattray Limited has released a new bottling of Blended Malt Scotch Whisky in specific response to demand from the USA. Rattray’s Selection Batch No 1 contains whisky from 4 Single Sherry Butts personally selected by Tim Morrison, Chairman of the company.

Tim, a member of the Morrison family which has been so influential in the Scotch Whisky industry for decades, chose an Auchentoshan 1991, a Balblair 1990, a Benriach 1989 and a Bowmore 1981.

Designed by Craig Mackinlay of Breeze Creative, this boxed limited edition of  1854 bottles is to be sold for $90 in specialists retailers in the USA but also in Europe and the UK (approx RRP £58).

Whyte & Mackay

Shackleton Release

Shackleton Release

Expertly produced by Whyte and Mackay’s charismatic Master Blender, Richard Paterson. This is your chance to sample the nearest ever thing to the fabled Shackleton Whisky.

 Authentically packaged and crafted, the whisky not only looks the part, but tastes even better!

 £99.95 per bottle

Extremely Limited supply

 
Lee Tomlinson,  Acting Manager

Milroy’s of Soho

3 Greek Street
London
W1D 4NX
T: 020 7437 2385
F: 020 7437 1345
www.milroys.co.uk

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

1998 Glen Ord 12 Year Old Signatory Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (ships as 1.5L) – 6 available ($95.99)

2000 Laphroaig 10 Year Old Signatory Sherry Butt Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($56.99)

1993 Tullibardine 15 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 4 available ($59.99)

1991 Balblair Highland Single Malt Whisky 750ml (ships as 1.5L) ($99.99)

Smokehead Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($52.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Arran Releases 2011

Arran have announced their forthcoming releases:

Premium Single Cask Range

Sleeping Warrior – Vintage 2000 Cask Strength in association with The National Trust for Scotland

Machrie Moor II

12 Year Old Cask Strength Batch #1

Visit Isle of Arran Distillery at www.arranwhisky.com

AUCHENTOSHAN LAUNCHES AN EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITON WHISKY – Bourbon Matured 1975 THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S ITEM FOR THE SINGLE MALT ENTHUSIAST

This May, Auchentoshan will release a rare limited edition, aged for 35 long years in fine North American Oak casks – The Auchentoshan Bourbon Matured 1975. With only 500 bottles in existence, collectors will be able to savour this fine expression at its optimum; cask strength and non-chill filtered.

Presented in a premium black double fronted box, both the carton and the bottle deliberately retain a subtlety and understated luxury best reserved for higher aged vintage releases.  The packaging reflecting the character of the copper gold liquid.   The name and label are slimmer revealing the liquid as the true hero, as is the neck, which exposes the natural cork.

Hannah Fisher, Brand Manager for Auchentoshan commented, “ This is a truly exceptional release; hand picked by our Distillery Manager from our older casks which sit within Warehouse Number 3,beneath the Kilpatrick Hills. With only 500 bottles in existence, this sweet yet spicy malt speaks for itself.”

The Bourbon Matured 1975 becomes part of a series of superb vintage releases from the late 1970s including last year’s 1977 Sherry matured and the 1978 Bourbon cask.  As Scotland’s only triple distilled whisky, dating back to 1823, Auchentoshan is a lowland Single Malt renowned for its smooth and gentle flavour. Its modern font, label and taste make it approachable to a wide audience from the younger emerging whisky drinkers to the single malt evangelists.

Tasting notes:

On the nose, is sweet butterscotch with a rum and raison toffee aroma.

On the palate hints of wood spice cutting through the sweetness, leaving a gentle lingering barley malt finish.

The Auchentoshan 1975 (RRP £350) 46.9% ABV, will be available from specialist whisky suppliers from May 2011.

For more information visit and www.auchentoshan.com

Slàinte!

Mark Dermul
A Toshan Man
(www.markdermul.be/toshanman)

Bruichladdich Releases 2011

Bruichladdich have announced some details of their forthcoming releases:

10yo

Micro Provenance

Islay Barley 2004 – A series of limited edition vintage releases – single batch, single farm, single vintage, single barley, single malt etc, due September.

40yo Bourbon Cask – limited to about 75 bottles

Port Charlotte PC9 – limited to about 6000 bottles

Octomore 4_167 – 18000 bottles due soon

Octomore 4.2 – 18000 bottles

Visit Bruichladdich Distillery at www.bruichladdich.com