BENRIACH RELEASES 2010 WOOD FINISHES
 
BenRiach has this month released three exciting new Wood Finish expressions from its Speyside Distillery.
 
The brand new bottlings include:
 
The BenRiach 16YO Claret Finish – 46%

The BenRiach 17YO Rioja Finish – 46%
 
The BenRiach 17YO Burgundy Finish – 46%
 
Matured in the traditional style in American bourbon barrels, these whiskies have then been ‘finished’ in either Rioja, Claret or Burgundy wine barrels. During this additional period of maturation, the whisky derives a number of additional flavours and aromas specific to the ‘finishing’ cask.  
 
The tasting notes spell out what makes these single malts so special.

BenRiach 16YO Claret Finish

Nose – clean and fruity. Stewed plums and damsons with sweet oak nuances. Embracing but with real finesse.
 
Colour – bright sparkling orange gold.
 
Taste – Spiced fruit scones, enrobed in a fig and date syrup. Fairly light acidity, yet with lovely mouth-cleansing fruits. A whisky with the flavours standing in perfect equilibrium. 
 
BenRiach 17YO Rioja Finish
 
Nose – dry and robust with wild flower characteristics. Sweet oak follows with elegant vanilla bean extract and ripe fermented grape juice.
 
Colour – Full gold with distinctive amber traces.
 
Palate – subtle floral elements including, violets, rosehip and dandelion. Creamy oak notes, married with vanilla and nutmeg round off the mix partnered with ripe peaches and apricots.
 
BenRiach 17YO Burgundy Finish

Nose – summer red berries, including fermented strawberries and raspberries. This is complemented by bitter cocoa bean nibs and freshly-cut wild flowers.
 
Colour – Full gold with a subtle tawny hue.
 
Taste – Vanilla crème-brulée with a distinct butterscotch component. Redcurrant jelly and quince flavours interact with toasted oak to bring excellent clarity and weight. A fruit and oak marriage of great elegance.
 
Sales director Alistair Walker said: “BenRiach operates an extensive finishing programme, and a five-minute stroll around the distillery’s Warehouse 13 will testify to that! The current BenRiach range already includes expressions finished in Pedro Ximinez Sherry, Tawny Port, Madeira, Dark Rum, Sauternes, Gaja Barolo and Moscatel.
 
“BenRiach has always been an experimental distillery, even under previous owners, and we have continued that tradition. We try and keep the range fresh and interesting by releasing new finishes and single casks each year, but in very limited quantities.”
 
The three new BenRiach finishes will be available in over twenty export markets, and in the UK through specialist, independent whisky retailers.
 
UK RRPs as follows:
 
BenRiach 16YO Claret Finish – £39.99
BenRiach 17YO Rioja Finish – £44.99
BenRiach 17YO Burgundy Finish – £44.99

Visit BenRiach Distillery at www.benriachdistillery.co.uk

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

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

Dear Customer

For our August releases we are pleased bring to your attention five (5) new bottlings under the OLD MALT CASK label – two (2) from the OLD & RARE “Platinum” selection – two (2) in the PREMIER BARREL Ceramic – two (2) from the Advanced Sample 20 cl selection – two (2) (45 year) old CLAN DENNY Grains – plus the eighth (8th) release of our Highland Park/Bowmore DOUBLE BARREL.

The Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK follow:

OMC1877 CRAIGELLACHIE CLARET WINE FINISHED 14 year old
Nose: Opens sweetly with stewed red fruit + plums + marzipan Palate: Round & complex with candied cherries + macerated fruit Finish: Warming finish replicates the palate’s fruity sweet quality (J)

OMC188 1 BRUICHLADDICH 20 year old
Nose: Sweetly perfumed and salty with a gristy style. Palate: Mouthcoatingly sweet then Malty with mocha tones. Finish: Sweetly toffee’d with light camphor then vanilla (F)

OMC1880 MANNOCHMORE 20 year old
Nose: Dryly spiced, perfumed, floral and gristy. Palate: Big and malted – citrus + barley – late barley + honey. Finish: The palate is neatly replicated. (F)

OMC1882 LINKWOOD 21 year old
Nose: Opens sweetly – runs to a stewed fruit (banana) & oranges character
Palate: Initially spicy & dry + a sweet almond and orange cake style. Finish: Long, balanced dry and sweet character with leather, spices and nuts (J)

OMC1878 GLEN GRANT BRANDY BUTT FINISHED 35 years old
Nose: Spicy, fruity, oaked, buttery and “very interesting”. Palate: Dry initially – runs to rummed raisins plus a peppery quality. Finish: More fruit, spice, camphor and light smoke. (F) (Understated)

Tasting Notes for PREMIER BARREL:

PBR0080 HIGHLAND PARK 12 year old
This Highland Park is a hyperbolically and hierarchically high spirited hero (hush-hush to the hankering hoi polloi!) with its halcyon hotch potch of peated panache, feisty fructiferousness and salubriously sympathetic spice with supplementary sweet scented smoke. (F)

PBR0081 MORTLACH 12 year old
May I monopolise, and muse over my munificently and melodiously mollifying Mortlach? Fundamentally, this frisky, flavourful festival of fructiferous fermentation is ffrankly, ffragrant, ffabulous, and full of ffinesse. (F)

OLD & RARE Tasting Notes:

OAR0099 LAPHROAIG SHERRY MATURED 21 year old
On the nose detect sweetly peated malt plus a distinctly smoked meat style masking some citrus and orange? quality. The palate is initially toffee’d then rolls into rich smoke, bonfire ash and soft summer tar. It finishes in a smoky/damp wood style, clove studied oranges, and even some burnt toast! (F)

OAR0103 MACALLAN WINE FINISHED 33 year old
The colour reflects its red wine “finish” – similarly apparent on its jammy nose full of macerated summer fruits – which warms to sugary fudge and barley. Those same malt and fruit flavours ebb and flow together then tend towards oak, walnuts and some tannin. The finish is interestingly spiced, and intriguingly smoked – now dry and spiced. (F)

The two (2) 20 cl ADVANCE SAMPLES are:

SMC0370 LAPHROAIG 9 year old
SMC0372 LINKWOOD 13 year old Bourbon Cask Matured

CLAN DENNY GRAIN Tasting Notes:

DEN0042 GIRVAN 45 year old
Round and full of crushed fruit quality, with bourbon cask/vanilla’d, oily and dunnage warehouse character all through the long, olfactory experience. Palatewise it takes you straight into the USA, with loads of those anticipated vanilla, light oak and buttery flavours – all sweet – coming through. The finish takes the more normal grain (shorter) route, but carries a mini replica of the palate. (F)

DEN0043 CALEDONIAN 45 year old
Fresh, clean, fruity and spicy – with an added fruit box style that all warms to old fashioned hair dressing and toffee smells on the nose. Palatewise it carries macerated fruit, barley sugar and late vanilla flavour – all replicated plus some dried spice on its short finish. (F)

DOUBLE BARREL

DBS0014 HIGHLAND PARK/BOWMORE – 8th Release

We certainly like these releases but more importantly we hope you similarly do. We thank you in advance for your kind consideration.

All best wishes
Fred H Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask at www.douglaslaingwhisky.com

Bunnahabhain OB 12yo 46.3%alc.

After a period in the wilderness Bunnahabhain has been re-thought and returned as an ‘unchillfiltered’ and higher strength variant better reflecting the distilleries’ true character, and what character!

The non-peaty of the Islay whiskies celebrates with this new bottling as smooth and vibrant, velvety and yet stimulating, cherry-sweetness with a beefy undercurrent. The finish is long with a (very slight) sulphury smokiness. As a standard distillery bottling the new version is very much an ace.

It moves significantly in the Flavour Map, it was in G2 (Delicate side of Rich & Delicate) now on the flavour map I reckon it is now in square H4
Complex Rich & Delicate

Bunnahabhain 12 year old
Barcode: 5029704217366

Price excluding VAT: £27.15
£31.90 Including VAT at 17.5%

Your Chance to Try Rare and Super Peaty Whisky from Islay’s Latest Legend

The hottest young distillery on Islay, Kilchoman, is kicking up a stir as a legend in the making. Thanks to its super peaty malt, the distillery will compete with giants such as Islay’s other distilleries Laphroaig and Lagavulin. Kilchoman was founded in 2005 and its whisky has only recently reached the minimum 3 years required for it to be classified as single malt Scotch. Amazingly, before it even came of age, Kilchoman spirit was heralded by critics – including top taster Jim Murray – as being delicious, and many predicted it would become the star of Islay (a region that many connoisseurs believe to be the best in Scotland). Jim even awarded one sample 94 out of 100 points.

Kilchoman’s extraordinary and rare malt is available to try as a sample from Master of Malt’s acclaimed sample service – “Drinks by the Dram” (a range of 3cl samples of whisky and other spirits including gin, rum, vodka, cognac and more). The service offers customers a chance to try before they buy – well worth it when some of the bottles available as samples sell for as much as £1,500!

For the first time ever, Kilchoman single malt is available for purchase in 3cl sample form (available from Master of Malt). This is a unique chance for whisky lovers and spirits connoisseurs to try something incredibly rare – even more noteworthy because the current batches of Kilchoman whisky have almost sold out. Whisky drinkers will be able to detect heavy peat smoke, iodine and pine oil on the nose, and the palate offers warm peat, fruit and malt. It is an unusual and wonderfully rich whisky; despite the fact it is only three years old!

Order your 3cl sample of Kilchoman Single Malt at http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/kilchoman-spring-2010-release-whisky/

About Drinks by the Dram
–    Hundreds of inexpensive 3cl (30ml) samples to try before you buy
–    Revolutionary new concept in online drinks retail
–    See a list of drams at: http://www.masterofmalt.com/drinks-by-the-dram/

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.
For further information please visit www.masterofmalt.com
Read the Master of Malt blog: www.masterofmalt.com/blog
Or follow Master of Malt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/masterofmalt 

The Irishman The Movie…The Irishman The Whiskey

Did you know….

…that a big budget Hollywood gangster movie called The Irishman is to be released in early 2011?

… The Irishman chronicles the rise and fall of infamous Cleveland gangster Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson), who engaged in a power struggle with the Italian mob.  Greene was as an upstart longshoreman union rep and later became a cocky, legendarily difficult-to-kill troublemaker in the world of organized crime in the 1970’s. Based on the real story of mobster Danny Greene, Christoper Walken will play the loan shark and nightclub owner Shondor Birns and Val Kilmer is a Cleveland police detective who befriends Greene.

Source: www.movieset.com/theirishman

An offer you can’t refuse….

Let us know what other famous Irish gangsters you have heard of!

Simply e-mail the names of 3 famous Irish gangsters you have heard of to madaboutwhiskey@hotirishman.com and enter a draw to win a bottle of “The Irishman” 70 Superior Irish Whiskey – a unique blend of pure pot still and single malt whiskeys. All correct entries will be entered in the draw with ten winners chosen at random.

Sláinte!

www.hotirishman.com

Dear Customers,

For our August releases we are pleased bring to your attention five (5) new bottlings under the PROVENANCE label.

Tasting Notes:

PRV0640 AUCHENTOSHAN 9 year old
Distinctly gristy as it opens on the nose plus some citrus and lightly oaked tones. The palate is initially massively sweet, opening further to barley and nutty flavours – all neatly replicated plus more spice on the finish. (F)

PRV0634 GLEN GARIOCH 9 year old
Opens smooth and fresh on the nose and develops to a sweet, vanilla tablet quality. The palate is sweetly spiced, with a toasted bread and toffee popcorn style. The finish jointly replicates the nose and palate and remains attractively sweet. (J)

PRV0635 GLENALLACHIE 9 year old
The nose is fresh and fruity, with a grapefruit quality and runs to mellow, vanilla sweetness. The palate is warming, still sweet with more fruit flavours, spice and barley apparent. The finish is short yet attractive, still carries a fruity character, now with camphor and orange pith. (J)

PRV0637 STRATHISLA 10 year old
The nose opens with a gristy sweet character, like entering a malt barn and develops to a fruit plus creamy style. Still sweet, the palate carries a barley sugar quality and has a nice malty mouthfeel with cough sweet warmth. The sweet gristy style returns on the finish which is long, dryly spiced yet mellow. (F & J)

PRV0641 HIGHLAND PARK 12 year old
Opens on the nose with bees wax and soft smoke reminiscent of old fashioned candles before a fresh and fruity quality appears. The lightly peated palate carries a sweet fruit quality and is balanced with smoke and spices. The finish is tangy, now ashy with a leather character that runs and runs. (J)

We certainly like these releases but more importantly we hope you similarly do. We thank you in advance for your kind consideration.

All best wishes,
Fred H Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing Provenance at www.douglaslaingwhisky.com

The notorious “Loch Dhu” is at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop
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Perhaps you’ve heard of the “black whisky” and thought it couldn’t possibly be real. Like the mysterious  ‘El Chupacabra,’ the single malt known as “Loch Dhu” has been seen by very few. Yet unlike the cryptozoological creature, this scotch is very,  very real. We have captured 5 bottles and are offering them first to our loyal  email customers. It was originally created (or was it?) at the Mannochmore distillery in 1996 but was quickly discontinued and became an instant cult favorite. See details below.

Thanks for taking a look. As always, please contact us if you have any questions. We also included a special discount offer from the Whisky Guild’s next “Whisky on the Hudson” Tasting & Dinner Cruise.

Don’t forget! Our annual 50% off Wine Sale begins August 2nd. Contact the store  for details and look for our ads in the New York Post.

Cheers!
Jonathan & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
www.parkaveliquor.com
info@parkaveliquor.com
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
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Loch Dhu ~ 10 Year Old

There is no doubt that this is a polarizing whisky. Single malt drinker’s either
 love Loch Dhu’s unique characteristics or loathe them with the white hot heat of a thousand suns. We’ll get to those notes in a second. First a little background. Loch Dhu,  means “Black Lake” in Gaelic, and was aged in special, double-charred  oak casks to create a whisky as black as night. This bottling has been rumored  to have been “a production accident at Mannochmore”. While others claim it was just a short-lived experiment. Either way, it has become a collector’s item. Tasting notes run the gamut from cigar ash, to licorice to chocolate covered espresso beans.

These notes make some rejoice and others recoil.

Our Price: $400 (limited availability)

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Whisky Guild: Tasting & Dinner Cruise

Join us for the Whisky on the Hudson the premier whisky event in the New York. Whisk(e)y enthusiasts can enjoy the opportunity to sample from more than 200 rare and exclusive whiskies,  by distillery managers and master blenders from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Japan.

DISCOUNT CODE = parkave
VIP Boarding Time: 6:00pm
Boarding Time: 7:00-7:30pm
Sail Time: 7:30-10:00pm

Ticket Price $95
VIP Ticket Price $115 (Board At 6:00pm)
TICKET PRICE INCLUDES FULL BUFFET DINNER AND ALL WHISKY SAMPLING
Call 908-578-2726
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Due to ever changing inventory, we cannot guarantee bottle availability. Please  contact the store with any questions regarding shipping.

Dear Customer,

We are happy to update you on 4 new additions to the DOUGLAS (of Drumlanrig) Malt Selection.

Tasting notes follow for each of them:

DOD0123 LAPHROAIG 9 years
Anticipate: Honey & vanilla + burnt cookies & smoke + bonfire ashes (J)

DOD122 CAOL ILA 9 years
Anticipate: damp ashes, burnt toast + marmalade, tar & sweet smoke

DOD0124 MORTLACH 12 years
Anticipate: spices/citrus/burnt toast/jam and honey. (F)

DOD 0121 ROYAL LOCHNAGAR 12 years
Anticipate: Fresh & fruity – barley sugar & mandarins – light + an orange tang (J)

We anticipate some further interesting bottlings through late summer and early autumn to add to the range.

All best wishes
Fred H Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas of Drumlanrig at www.douglaslaingwhisky.com

Single Malts Newsletter
Kilchoman Summer Release, Ben Nevis 25YO & Deals of Week
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Greetings!

This week we have details on the new Kilchoman Summer Release and our deal of the week.

Kilchoman 2010 Summer Release

Arriving soon at Single Malts Direct is the next installment in the Kilchoman series.

Following the previous releases we expect this one to move fast so we are giving you the opportunity to pre-order now to avoid missing out on one.

Visit http://www.singlemaltsdirect.com/magento/kilchoman-summer-release-2010.html to pre-order

Just Arrived at Single Malts Direct…

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Ben Nevis 25 Year Old

We now have more of this outstanding Ben Nevis release in stock. This is a big favourite at Single Malts Direct.

Only £88.49 Inc Vat

£75.31 Ex Vat

The Ben Nevis 25yo

 GlenDarroch 10 Year Old Pure Malt

Blended and bottled in Aberdeenshire, this is another expression that has recently become available to us. A very pleasant, smooth, sipping whisky.

Only £19.99 Inc Vat

£17.01 Ex Vat

The GlenDarroch 10yo

Visit Single Malts Direct at www.singlemaltsdirect.com