The Scotch Whisky Nosing Aroma Kit

The Scotch Whisky Aroma Nosing Kit and accompanying 60 page guide booklet will make scotch whisky nosing and tasting an even more pleasurable experience and dramatically increase your scotch whisky nosing and tasting knowledge!

Let us guide you as we:

Introduce a series of key reference scotch whisky aromas!  Educate you regarding nosing terminology/vocabulary!  Explain the scotch whisky nosing and tasting process!  Identify the key aromas to be found in your favourite single malts!  With the unique Scotch Whisky Aroma Nosing Kit and accompanying explanatory guide!

The Scotch Whisky Aroma Nosing Kit contains;

*24 aroma samples that cover the spectrum of aromas typically found in scotch whiskies
*An explanatory 60 page booklet guide
*Blank aroma strips
*Nosing and Tasting Record Sheet
*All packaged in an attractive wooden box.

Whisky Nosing Aroma Kit – Become a Whisky Connoisseur

SPECIAL PRICE
WAS £129.99 
NOW £114.99

Visit Single Malts Direct at www.singlemaltsdirect.com

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Singleton of Dufftown 15yo’

Singleton of Dufftown 15yo
40% abv
£33.50 inc vat
£28.51 ex vat

Official Tasting Note:

‘Appearance: Deep amber or burnt orange.

Nose: Slightly spicy nosefeel and drying, overall. Toffee apples. Hints of honeycomb balanced by remnants of youthful zestiness – linseed oil and scented tea. Becomes fruitier: ripe autumn fruits combined with red berry sharpness. Malt and cereal notes. Some golden syrup sweetness. Reassuringly well balanced. Adding water brings up a waxier note initially, with traces of sweet chestnut and glace angelica, and then a whiff of smoke or charred wood.

Body: Medium, coating. Pleasing.

Palate: Without water, the flavour is sweet to start then drying in the finish. Warming, light and smooth; tending to delicate. Malty and oaty base notes. Fresh fruit salad, with spicy and floral top notes. With water added there’s a pleasant mouthfeel. Some sweetness, though the overall effect remains balanced and dry.

Finish: Drying. Pears and digestive biscuits, then delicately, and sweetly, spiced. Some lingering high notes of aniseed.’

Flavour Map Ref: H6
Complex / Rich

Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at www.lfw.co.uk

MILROY’S OF SOHO NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

We dedicate much of November’s newsletter to the 2010 Diageo Special Releases.   As always, these releases are eagerly anticipated.  This year is no different, with some very high quality whiskies.  Having tasted them for the first time last week, I can personally vouch for them!  Read on for full tasting notes and details of prices and availability.   We also feature a couple of exciting new releases from Suntory-owned Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries in Japan, as well as a bottling to celebrate the 170th anniversary of Glen Grant distillery. 

For those that have been waiting for the Balvenie 17 year old Peated Cask to appear, please be aware that it should be with us by the end of this week.

We round out the newsletter with a competition, giving Milroy’s of Soho mailing list members an exclusive opportunity to win tickets to a wonderful art exhibition at London’s Royal Academy of Arts featuring works from the “Glasgow Boys”.

DIAGEO SPECIAL RELEASES 2010

Details of this year’s releases are set out below.  It was great to see a couple of Speysiders in good form; both the Glen Spey and Cragganmore are quite superb.   The Glenkinchie displayed real elegance and refinement, and Caol Ila 12 year old Unpeated showed extremely well. 

GLENKINCHIE 20 Year Old, 55.1% ABV

This Glenkinchie is wonderfully delicate and elegant.  The nose is lifted and aromatic, with honeydew melon and pear drops leading the way, followed by freshly baked madelines and honey.  A very “pretty” whisky, the theme of elegance follows through on the palate.  A touch of water brings out fruitier notes.  The finish is long and warming.

£135 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £125 per bottle

AUCHROISK 20 Year Old, 58.1% ABV

This is the first mature official bottling of Auchroisk we have seen since the Rare Malts release several years ago.  It’s a lovely honey laden malt; shortbread, sponge drenched in syrup and butterscotch provide its structure.  Best enjoyed with a judicious dash of water, which reveals marzipan and a touch of ginger.

£125 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £115 per bottle

GLEN SPEY 21 Year Old, 50.4%

The use of new American oak, some of which held Sherry, has worked very well here.  Without water, the nose delivers an enticing mix of raisins, toffee, polished timber and even a suggestion of rum.  It drinks well neat, with a gently prickle on the tongue.  Water (just a few drops) opens up the spirit to reveal a fruity core of plums and damsons.  An unexpected gem!

£130 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £120 per bottle

CRAGGANMORE 21 Year Old, 56.0% ABV

Cragganmore proved to be the star of the Speysiders (pushed all the way by the Glen Spey), with a lovely exotic nose of egg custard, banana and brandy-soaked Victoria sponge.   There is no spirity edge when tasted neat, but it holds up well with water, maltier notes emerging, including cocoa, dark chocolate and gingerbread.   All in all, this is a very complete, fine and elegant Speyside malt.

£145 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £135 per bottle

BRORA 30 Year Old, 54.3% ABV

Without a doubt, Brora was the highlight of the evening.  This is a whisky to nose and pontificate over (as we did last night).  The nose is complex, yet not easy to describe; faint peat smoke is interwoven with toffee, linseed, almonds, dried herbs and pipe tobacco.  The palate is uncompromising and takes no prisoners, sweet fudge meets dry smoke like a clash of cymbals, yet there is delicacy too.  Brora mightn’t be the easiest of malts to come to terms with – it’s a rather intellectual malt, bordering on aloof – but the effort is worth it.  If you treat yourself just once this year, make it a bottle of Brora!

£280 per bottle retail price

TALISKER 30 Year Old, 57.3%

There is only the one Talisker amongst the Special Releases this year.  This 30 year old possesses more up-front creamy sweetness than those of previous years.  Behind this veil lurks the Talisker we know and love; brine, fish rope and dry peat and a suggestion of cracked pepper.  Notwithstanding its considerable strength, it drinks extremely well neat or with just a few drops of water.

£235 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £220 per bottle

CAOL ILA 12 Year Old Unpeated, 57.6% ABV

We have loved the unpeated expression of Caol Ila since its inception in 2006.  Now almost an adolescent at 12 years of age, it continues to deliver the goods.  The nose alone is just about worth the asking price; it boldly leaps out of the glass; brioche, oatcakes, brine and seaweed.  The palate is similarly multi-dimensional and packed full of flavour.  Butterscotch and toffee vie with coastal notes of salty brine.  If you like your whisky with a distinctive coastal edge, this Caol Ila is for you!

£50 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £47 per bottle

LAGAVULIN 12 Year Old, 56.5% ABV

Big peat….big peat….big peat…..balanced by lovely creamy sweetness and orchard fruit.   For me, the 12 year old is the best of the Lagavulin bottlings, and as good as anything from Islay.   There’s peat in spades, but multiple layers of flavour; seaweed, smoked kippers, old boot leather, bath salts, something slightly medicinal that I can’t quite describe.  What makes this Lagavulin exceptional is its silken texture, reinforcing Lagavulin’s status as the veritable iron fist in a velvet glove.

£57 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £53 per bottle

PORT ELLEN 31 Year Old, 54.6% ABV

At 31 years of age and bottled from 1979 distillate, Port Ellen comes over as a tamed monster.  Peat, brine, smoke and salt are evident, but toned down from younger expressions.  The smoky core is nestled in a cradle of sweet honeycomb and creamy vanilla.   In our view, this is a Port Ellen best enjoyed neat so you can enjoy the full impact.

As quantities of Port Ellen are even smaller than usual this year, we will have had to allocate our available stock to customers who have bought from us in previous years.

£250 per bottle retail price – Limit 1 bottle per customer

TWO NEW LIMITED RELEASES FROM JAPAN

Japanese whisky has been a “hot” item for a good 2-3 years now.  Thankfully, this is not just down to chic packaging, but also to the quality of the spirit in the bottle.  Without a doubt, the very best whisky from Japan is world class.

HAKUSHU HEAVILY PEATED, 48% ABV

Matured in American white oak, this peated malt from Hakushu distillery delivers an enticing combination of peat, iodine and tobacco, interwoven with dates, plums and red apples.  I would describe this malt as moderately, rather than heavily peated, but it has real elegance and complexity.  Do act quickly as it won’t be around for long.

£65 per bottle RRP

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £61 per bottle

YAMAZAKI PUNCHEON, 48% ABV

This special edition Yamazaki was matured in an American oak puncheon, making it an interesting contrast to the Yamazaki Sherry Cask and 18 year old.  It is a vibrantly fruity whisky, with sweet apricot, pineapple and pear, overlaid by vanilla oak and butterscotch.  We were really impressed by this whisky when tasted last week; class in a glass!

£65 per bottle RRP

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £61 per bottle

GLEN GRANT DISTILLERY TURNS 170

Glen Grant distillery seems to be on a roll.  We love the superb Glen Grant 1992, a wonderfully elegant and seamless Speyside malt. To celebrate the 170th anniversary of Glen Grant distillery, manager Dennis Malcolm has selected some of the best Glen Grant whiskies over the past few decades and vatted them together. 

GLEN GRANT 170TH ANNIVERSARY, 46% ABV

The result is a soft, elegant and fine malt whisky that marries sweet raisins together with fresh stonefruit, Madagascan vanilla and a gentle hint of peat-smoke.  It is bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour and without chill-filtration.

£79.99 per bottle RRP

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £74.50 per bottle

COMPETITION – WIN 2 TICKETS TO SEE THE “GLASGOW BOYS” EXHIBITION AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

The Royal Academy of Arts presents the first major exhibition in London for over 40 years to celebrate the achievement of the Glasgow Boys, a loosely knit group of around 20 young painters who created a huge stir at home and abroad in the final decades of the 19th century. They produced some of the most revolutionary painting from Britain, drawing praise in London, Munich, Vienna and further afield.

The exhibition runs from 30 October 2010 through 23 January 2011.  Tickets are available to book now.

We are offering two tickets for one lucky mailing list member (and a friend) to attend this exhibition.   For a chance to win, simply answer the following question.

What is the closest currently operating malt whisky distillery to the city of Glasgow?

Please email your answer to competitions@royalacademy.org.uk.  The winner will be announced on Friday November 12.
 
Until next month, slàinte!
 
Best regards

Philip

Philip Shorten
Milroy’s of Soho

3 Greek Street

London, W1D 4NX

T: 020 7437 2385

F: 020 7437 1345

W: www.milroys.co.uk

THE SINGLETON OF GLENDULLAN

92 POINTS – Beverage Testing Institute

CSPC: +139170

PRICE: $48.99

STATUS: Available at BCLDB

SIZE: 6 x 750 ml / case

Available now and this week at a BCLDB store near you.

ABOUT GLENDULLAN

There is a local saying in Dufftown: “Rome was built on seven hills and Dufftown stands on seven stills.” Glendullan is the seventh and last distillery built in the town and began production in 1898.

The town of Dufftown was founded by the 4th Earl of Fife to provide employment after the Napoleonic Wars. Thanks to its naturally pure water, it soon became the centre of the distilling industry. Today, the town lays claim to the title of malt whisky capital of the world and the Glendullan distillery continues to thrive on the original site where it was built in 1897.

Production began in 1898 and in 1902 the Glendullan single malt was supplied by royal request to King Edward VII. In 1972, the distillery was expanded to meet demand, with a further six stills added.

Today, Glendullan produces more whisky than most of the distilleries in the Classic Malts selection. Given that The Singleton of Glendullan has been so well received, we can’t imagine there’ll be any let up soon.

The Singleton of Glendullan has a rich, smooth character that is derived from the combination of spirit matured in European Sherry Oak casks and American Bourbon Oak casks.

American Oak brings subtle, honeyed hints of sweet vanilla while European Oak brings lush fruit and balancing dryness. It’s this blend of American Bourbon Cask and European Sherry Cask aging that provides the unique balance and character.

This round, elegant and finely balanced malt comes from the heart of Speyside. Malted barley, often locally grown, is carefully selected, and pure water is drawn from the high, wooded hills above the distillery glen. We bring them together slowly to ensure the spirit’s round, elegant and beautifully balanced nature.

We take longer still to prepare each distillation, pausing to find the most fragrant, rich fruit flavors.

THE SINGLETON TASTING with MASTER DISTILLER – MICHAEL NICOLSON

Join Mike, a 36 year veteran of scotch whisky distillation, as he walks us through the Singleton of Glendullan, and brings to life the Singleton in a can’t miss event during the BCLDB’s PREMIUM SPIRITS RELEASE! Catering by Joe Fortes.

DATE: Saturday, November 6th, 2010

TIME: 1PM – 4PM

LOCATION: 39th & Cambie BC liquor store. (5555 Cambie Street, Vancouver)

WIN A CASK Competition: 37 one-of-a-kind bottles

48.21 Sunshine on a rainy day
We’ve discovered we have a bit of a leaky cask. Of course, the contents are just way too precious not to enjoy.  “What to do?” we thought.  The answer came as natural as the whisky itself.  “Spread a little joy to our members”

Buy any 70cl bottle from NOW until Mon 13 Dec and we’ll automatically enter you into our Win a Cask Competition where you and your loved ones could be enjoying 37 one-of-a-kind single cask bottles (delivered straight to your doorstep before Christmas). 

Here to tempt you (ready and waiting in our online shop)…

2.76 Cola and shea butter  (£61.30)
4.131 An artists’ retreat  (£82.00)
18.30 Hippie dram (£71.50)
19.47 Dried roses in a shoe-box (£58.30)
27.83 Time warp (£50.70)
35.34 Moraccan tea-room masculity (£49.70)
93.40 Clay and pork sausages  (£42.20)
121.34 Pears in a satchel (£42.20)

Also don’t forget our Nov Preview Pair:
121.39 & 44.47 for £77.90 and save £9 (offer ends Thu 4 Nov)

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events

New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 6 Nov
New Outturn & Sunday Roast Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 7 Nov
New Members Tasting – Queen Street, Mon 8 Nov
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Mon 8 Nov
Penderyn Tasting – London, Wed 10 Nov

Some Competition T&C’s: The competition ends at midnight on Mon 13 Dec 2010.  Entry to the competition is on the basis of any 70cl SMWS bottle purchase (via Mail Order, Society Venues or Tasting Events). No alternatives are available. The winner will be picked randomly and notified by SMWS after the competition closing date.  The prize will be delivered to one UK address. The competition is not open to SMWS employees, their family or suppliers.  Prize: 37 single cask bottles from cask 48.21.

Join the Society today at www.smws.co.uk

All wrapped up for Christmas

Hi everyone,

Yes it’s coming up to that time of year already and as you can see below, we are prepared!

Our new Gift Carton will start appearing in the shops soon and will be available during the festive season in the following countries – Angola, Colombia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Russia and South Africa.

I’d certainly be pleased to see one under my Christmas tree, but as usual, please let me know what you think of our latest seasonal design.

Merry Christmas!

Ludo (Visit Ludo’s blog at http://blog.grantswhisky.com/ )

Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is launching the first in a new range of special collectible tins, just in time for Christmas.

Available from October, the collectable ‘Art of Glengoyne’ tin features a stunning watercolour of ‘Scotland’s Most Beautiful Distillery’ by accomplished Edinburgh based artist and illustrator Dave Brogan.

Depicting Glengoyne Distillery at sunset, with the snow white peaks of nearby Dumgoyne hill in the background, the striking painting wraps around the metal tin, while metallic gold and embossed detail adds extra value and depth to the original design. 400 cases of 6 x 70cl will be available in the UK with another 3,890 cases available worldwide) The unique Glengoyne 10 Years Old tins will be available through the Glengoyne online shop www.glengoyne.com and select specialist retailers.

With over thirty years experience capturing some of Scotland’s most iconic sites, Dave was the natural choice to launch the ‘Art of Glengoyne’ range, that will see a select number of artists commissioned to create special one-off tin designs for the award-winning Single Malt Whisky every Christmas.

Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers said: “It is a beautiful painting of the distillery which perfectly captures the tranquillity and beauty of Glengoyne and its location. By introducing the new ‘Art of Glengoyne’ range, at the same price point as the standard tubed Glengoyne 10 Years Old, we can give Glengoyne enthusiasts something really special, as well as making the perfect Christmas gift.”

Limited edition ‘Art of Glengoyne’ tins of Glengoyne 10 Years Old are available to buy for the same price as a regular bottle (£29.99) from www.glengoyne.com.

For further details on stockist and distribution details for Glengoyne, contact Alan Wardrop, UK Sales Manager, Ian Macleod Distillers, 01506 852205.

For further information visit: www.glengoyne.com

Ian Macleod Distillers encourages responsible drinking
www.drinkaware.co.uk www.scotch-whisky.org.uk

Notes:

Award-winning Glengoyne is one of the leading premium malt whiskies in the world and has been distilled at Glengoyne distillery since 1833. The Glengoyne portfolio consists of the 10 Years Old, 12 Years Old Cask Strength, 12 Years Old at 43%, 17 Years Old , 21 Years Old and Vintage 1972 as well as other limited edition special bottlings.

Tasting Notes: Glengoyne 10 Years Old

Appearance: Golden yellow. Clear and bright.

Nose: Sweet, with toffee and popcorn aromas. Slightly nutty, with fresh green apples coming through.

Body: Clean, green apples and grass with a hint of liquorice, sweeter, linseed oil and almonds

Finish: Sweet and malty

THE JOHN WALKER BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY- A TRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDING FATHER OF JOHNNIE WALKER.

To mark the start of a new decade, the House of Walker celebrates the life of its founder with the launch of The John Walker (RRP £2,000), an incredibly special blend of whisky that is the epitome of the Johnnie Walker Blue family of scotch whiskies.

Hand-crafted and made to order in single barrel batches with only 330 bottles available, The John Walker embodies rarity and exclusivity. Presented in a unique, individually numbered Baccarat crystal decanter that is hand blown, polished and engraved by one of only three Master-craftsmen in the world; The John Walker contains whisky blended from 9 hand selected casks. Building from the predecessors “Johnnie Walker Blue Label” and “King George V”, this blend takes the idea of hand selection of extraordinary casks, and takes that to new levels of rarity and craft. Every care has been made to recreate the authentic flavours of a 19th Century blend in John Walker’s original style and the whisky has been taken from a range of distilleries, some of which are now closed; making this whisky quite literally priceless. 

The John Walker is the ultimate luxury gift for any discerning gentleman. Encasing the gift is a hand crafted lacquer cabinet with over 60 hours of workmanship used to create the eleven layers of lacquer and luxurious cream leather interior. No detail is left to chance from the Baccarat cut crystal stopper to the 24 Carat Gold plated neck collar and travel stopper.

Inside, the taste of The John Walker whisky starts in sophisticated fashion with the richness of mature fruits slowly following from the more youthful aromas of fresh citrus. The initial burst of flavour is defined by a vanilla oak sweetness, with the Older Speyside whiskies contributing to the amazing smoothness. These casks are designed to give wonderful malty flavours, characteristic of classic 19th Century whiskies. Cambus grain whisky is the unifying force that binds the great Malt whiskies together in “The John Walker”, combining to make a stunning tasting experience.

The John Walker has a RRP of £2,000 and is available exclusively from Harrods.

Notes:

Tasting Notes:

Appearance –Rich and viscous in the glass – hints at the smoothness to follow.
Nosing – The taste of “The John Walker” starts in sophisticated fashion with the richness of mature fruits slowly following from the more youthful aromas of fresh citrus.
Palate –The initial burst of flavor is defined by a vanilla oak sweetness. Enormous body and elegant structure to the palate. Walker Speyside whiskies contribute to the amazing smoothness.  These casks are designed to give the wonderful malty flavours, characteristic of the 19th Century whiskies. The underlying sweetness is unusually soft. Cambus grain whisky is the unifying force that binds the great Malt whiskies together in “The John Walker”. The Marrying process, the second maturation in small cask, small batch production gives a chance for these great, giant whiskies to work together seamlessly.
Finish – Finally as the big, elegant flavours gradually evolve, there is a slowly emerging echo of smoke that finishes this unique blend of rarely seen whiskies. 

About Diageo:
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.  

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

Miner’s Delight Inn Bed & Breakfast
Atlantic City, Wyo.

Offers:

Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release & Smokehead

Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release will be  one of the three featured whiskys at  our “New Beginnings” tasting for December 2010’s Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six.

www.minersdelightinn.com

JURA TOASTS 200th CELEBRATION WITH A DRAM OF NEWLY RELEASED 21YO

This year marks a special year for the Jura distillery as it is celebrating its 200th anniversary.  To commemorate this occasion, Jura is releasing a new limited edition 21yo which will be available to buy direct from the island or through specially selected whisky partners.
The distillery, which was founded in 1810, is the only distillery on the island and is home to the award winning range of single malts – 10, Superstition, 16 and Prophecy –  with the Jura 21 years old will now sitting alongside the  collection.
 
If its maturation in vintage sherry casks from 1963 isn’t enough to tempt the palate, as an added anniversary bonus, each pack will contain an exclusive invitational scroll from Distillery Manager, Willie Cochrane, to a special tasting of rare whiskies at the distillery.  There will also be 21 stays at the luxury Jura lodge up for grabs for purchasers of the commemorative malt.
 
Willie Cochrane, Distillery Manager commented:  ‘At the distillery we are all extremely proud of this 200th anniversary expression.  Not only is it an exceptional malt, it’s also an exceptionally rare malt with only a few thousand people being lucky enough to be able to enjoy this beautiful whisky that has been matured in a vintage Oloroso sherry cask. ‘
 
He continued: ‘Each and every bottle will also contain a personal invite from me to join me and my team at the distillery for a private tour and to indulge in some of our rarest malts, but consumers need to be quick off the mark as there are a limited number of bottles and tours available worldwide.’

Notes:

Tasting Notes:

The unique vintage 1963 Oloroso sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass have provided this noble spirit with a flawless finish of sot marzipan, crushed walnuts, fleshy pear and tangy orange peel. Whispers of succulent maraschino cherries, plums and soft liquorice complete this memorable masterpiece.

http://www.isleofjura.com