From David Stirk of the Creative Whisky Company;

My latest batch of Exclusive Malts (cask strength – about 18 casks a year):

Coleburn 1983 26yo 48.6% Refill ex-Bourbon hogshead
Littlemill 1990 20yo 51.3% First fill ex-Bourbon barrel
Imperial 1995 15yo 50.3% First fill ex-Sherry hogshead
Tamdhu 1980 29yo 52.8% Refill ex-Bourbon hogshead
Macallan 1997 12yo 50% First fill ex-Sherry hogshead (BeNeLux only)

They are all good but the Imperial is a real surprise!

Visit the Creative Whisky Company at http://www.creativewhisky.co.uk/

From TWE Staff;

We are very pleased to announce that we now have some exciting new whiskies in our casks at The Whisky Exchange Vinopolis.

The current line-up consists of:

• Arras NAS / 57.8% / Blended Malt
• Speyside 1993 / 60.6% / Speyside Single Malt
• Bunnahabhain 1997 / Heavily Peated / 56.8% Islay Single Malt
• Craigellachie 1997 / 58.1% / Speyside Single Malt

So feel free to come down and have a little try

Lord Robertson (the other Lord of the Isles) Single Cask bottling released!

Lord Robertson Single Cask bottling in support of Erskine

Ardbeg single cask bottlings don’t appear often, but this one is particularly special. In 2000, to commemorate the distillery visit of then NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson (native of Port Ellen), cask number 1217 was laid down.

10 years on, this special cask has been bottled. The outturn was just 202 bottles. And each and every one has been hand signed by Lord Robertson. They will be available in the online Shop on Wednesday the 7th July from 9am.

All proceeds from the sale of these rare bottles will go to Erskine, a worthy charity supported by Lord Robertson, which provides nursing and medical care for former members of the Armed Forces. Find out more about Lord Robertson single cask including tasting notes http://www.ardbeg.com/shop/lord-robertson.html

Lord Robertson Single Cask
 
• 70cl
• Single Cask 1217 from the year 2000
• Non chill-filtered
• Hand-signed by Lord Robertson
• All proceeds donated to Erskine
• Just 202 bottles available from
  Wednesday the 7th of July
• 1 per member only!

Description

Tasting Notes

The whisky has a superb complexity and incredible finesse and balance. The peat is sophisticated and sweet with chocolate and toffee, smoky violets and creamy meringue with cherry pie, clove and star anise. The palate is dark and deep yet also sensuous and gentle – peat smoke, sweet barley and cocoa.

A mighty whisky with supreme delicacy.

Background

This rare Ardbeg single cask bottling was laid down 10 years ago to commemorate the distillery visit of Lord Robertson, formerly NATO secretary general.

Born in Port Ellen, Lord Robertson could be considered the original Lord of the Isles and is an Ileach through and through. He has hand signed all 202 bottles from this special cask.

As a dedicated supporter of Erskine, the charity that cares for ex-service men and women, all proceeds from the sale of Lord Robertson’s Single Cask bottling will be donated to this worthy charity.

http://www.ardbeg.com/distillery/didyouhear/lord-robertson

July Outturn: All your dreams come true

Have you been dreaming of the perfect single cask, single malt?  It’s time to make your dreams come true…enjoy 20 new casks this July, along with a selection of SMWS recommendations.

Summery Pair: Buy 39.76 & 7.58 for £119 (save £15.30)
39.76 Delish!
Speyside Lossie
£73 inc. Free P&P
Vanilla, raspberry ripple, candy floss and banana, but it mostly conveyed scents from a lady’s dresser – citrus, floral perfumes (violet, lavender, lily of the valley) soft leather and sandalwood.

7.58 Mandarin dreams and marmalade heaven
Speyside Lossie
£61.30 inc. Free P&P
Delightful discovery of aromatics – soap, sherbet, tea-tree, putty, paint and flying saucers, ginger beer, gentian, dandelions….

Best Buy Pair: Buy 93.39 & 35.36 for £75 (save £9.40)
93.39 Master and commander
Campbeltown
£42.20 inc. Free P&P
Crème caramel, onion chutney, raisin and cake mix; cherry pie, blueberries and prunes came later.       

35.36 Life is a beach!
Speyside Lossie
£42.20 inc. P&P
Gentle waves of Demerara, barley sugar, apple strudel and sugared buns licked a shingle beach of aromatic fennel, liquorice and fresh white wine, creating a mellow, smile-inducing nose. 

Summer Holiday Case Offer: Buy all six for £308 (save £40)
121.35 Simple yet complex – £39.20 inc. Free P&P
93.39 Master and commander – £42.20 inc. Free P&P
77.20 Honeysuckle, jasmine and fern – £65.40 inc. Free P&P
3.159 Tic-tacs and tar-mac – £65.40 inc. Free P&P
35.40 Horse lick whisky  – £70.40 inc. Free P&P
2.78 Kissed up by sweet promises – £65.40 inc. Free P&P

Islay Lover? 
Three new Islay casks added: 3.159, 33.88 and 53.141

Closed Distillery:
Lowland favourite 25.53

Don’t forget: Sample four July Outturn drams @
Aberdeen Malmaison, Birmingham & Brighton Hotel du Vin
Enjoy 121.35, 3.159 along with 39.76 and 7.58.

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events
Glenmorangie Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 1 July
World Cup Quarter Final Viewing – Queen Street, Fri 2 July
World Cup Quarter Final Viewing – Queen Street, Sat 3 July
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 3 July
New Outturn & Sunday Roast Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 4 July
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Mon 5 July
World Cup Semi Final Viewing – Queen Street, Tue 6 July
World Cup of Drams – Queen Street, Wed 7 July
World Cup Final: Viewing & BBQ – Queen Street, Sun 11 July
World Cup Final Viewing – London, Sun 11 July
Whisky Galore with matched drams – London, Wed 14 July
Best of Edinburgh Tasting – London, Fri 23 July

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships

July 2010

TO ALL CUSTOMERS

Dear Client

For the month of July we believe we have an interesting and really wide ranging selection to offer you comprising
(1) one new DOUBLE BARREL, (1) one outstanding Islay based OLD & RARE, (9) nine OLD MALT CASK bottlings, (5)
five under the Advance Sample 20 cls) with (2) two PREMIER BARREL offerings, (2) two Cigar Malts and a selection
of (7) seven for the PROVENANCE label.

The Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK follows:

OMC1853 LINKWOOD BOURBON 13 year old
Nose: Richly toffee’d + vanilla, citrus and barber shop smells.
Palate: Mouthcoatingly vanilla’d + an overload of ginger/spices.
Finish: Here the palate is replicated – but more sweetly. (F)

OMC1876 LOCHNAGAR 13 year old
Nose: Fresh, spicy, citric with barley and sugar.
Palate: Sugary initially then softly fruited and gristy.
Finish: Spicy with cough drop flavour+ a waft of dry smoke. (F)

OMC1852 LITTLEMILL 18 year old
Nose: Fresh, green malt sweetness + citrusy character + toffee
Palate: Still fresh, now fruity – trifle style (vanilla, fruit jelly and cream!)
Fi nish: Remains sweet with a long spiced style + vanilla + caramel (J)

OMC1879 LOCHSIDE 18 year old
Nose: Old fashioned hairdressing? – spiced – grassy and gristy.
Palate: Subtle with mocha + an oily, nutty and barley quality.
Finish: Warm spices+vanilla pods+burnt pancake (F)

OMC1863 ABERFELDY 26 year old
Nose: Fresh & fragrant – carries an orange blossom style + barley sugar
Palate: Clean, still fresh + a citrus quality, like a flamed orange peel
Finish: Attractive sweet style, with orange pith and an oaky tang (J)

OMC1868 CAOL ILA 26 year old
Nose: Sweetly phenolic, briny, peppery + late ozone.
Palate: Mouthcoatingly oily with coal dust and more late peat.
Finish: Now drier + concentrated peat/ash/sweet seaweed. (F)

OMC1866 GLEN MHOR 27 YEAR OLD
Nose: Distinctly toffee’d, fresh & clean, with a gristy sweet style
Palate: Honey sweet character runs to a toffee & ginger quality
Finish: Long, still spicy + a cedar wood + camphor(?)and coffee style. (J)

OMC1865 TOMINTOUL 40 year old
Nose: Carries barley sugar – sweet warm spices + light oakiness.
Palate: Drier than anticipated – warms to honey + mellow spices.
Finish: Lightly smoked – oily – and still oaked. (F)

OMC1875 SPEYSIDE’S FINEST SHERRY MATURED 42 year old
Nose: Sugary – fruity – nutty – oaky – and spicy!
Palate: Carries steamed fruit pudding – cinnamon – oak & spice.
Finish: Now drier – still spiced – lightly smoked + cloves. (F)

PROVENANCE Tasting Notes are as follows:

PRV0628 AULTMORE SHERRY 9 year old
Distinctly spicy and sweet as it opens – then more of a macerated fruit content comes through with more spice all
on the nose. The palate is more Sherried than the colour suggests – being sweet, smooth and rather fruity – even
with some light camphor and late dulcet barley sugar. The finish replicates the palate nicely. (F)

PRV0630 DAILUAINE 9 year old
The nose opens with a fresh, then musky character plus marzipan and candied plums appear running to rhubarb
crumble! The palate carries a ginger spice character and develops to a rich chocolate & toffee liqueur quality. The
finish is still sweet with a chewy cedar wood tang. (J)

PRV0632 ROYAL BRACKLA 10 year old
Fresh and clean on the nose, runs to a sweet fruity style –just like opening a bag of wine gums! Still sweet on the
palate, now honeyed, and carries to a gristy quality. The finish is round and mellow with a ripe pear style. (J)

PRV0629 ALLT A’BHAINNE SHERRY 12 year old
The nose opens sweet and spicy, reminiscent of freshly baked waffles with toffee and cream on top. The palate is
round with a fresh, sherbet quality and runs to spicy vanilla tablet. The finish is medium long, still sweet, with a
buttery cookie dough character. (J)

PRV0625 BEN NEVIS 12 year old
The nose opens with a yeasty, sweet character – maybe even home baked waffles, and develops to spiced pears in
syryp. The palate is still sweet and carries to macerated oranges with a barley sugar quality before a hint of smoke
appears. The finish is spicy with an attractive sweet and oaky character that lingers on. (J)

PRV0633 GLENCADAM 12 year old
The fresh, clean and floral nose is attractive and carries a barley sweet, creamy character. The palate is still sweet,
now more vanilla’d and lightly spiced in style, and runs to poached fruit in syrup. The finish is malty, sweetly
spiced, and develops a later orange tang. (F & J)

PRV0627 MACALLAN 12 year old
Clean and gristy, even with some barley sugar on the nose. Whereas, the mouth feel is round and viscous –
similarly so the palate which is lusciously sweet (blossom honey style) plus an interesting spiciness – all leading to a
slightly drier, still spiced – maybe camphor? – finish (F)

The five 20 cl ADVANCE SAMPLES are:

SMC0365 ALLT A’BHAINE (Sherry) 12 year old
SMC0368 AULTMORE(Sherry) 9 year old
SMC0366 BEN NEVIS 12 year old
SMC0369 DAILUAINE 9 year old
SMC0367 HIGHLAND PARK 11 year old

The one 20 cl CIGAR MALT is:

MSW2788 AULTMORE 9 year old
Nose: Sweetly spiced+macerated fruit.
Palate: Distinctly sherried – fruity & barley sugared.
Finish: Replicates the palate neatly (F).

The one 70 cl CIGAR MALT is:

OMC1858 AULTMORE 9 year old
Nose: Sweetly spiced+macerated fruit.
Palate: Distinctly sherried – fruity & barley sugared.
Finish: Replicates the palate neatly (F).

OLD & RARE Tasting Notes follow:

O&R0100 PORT ELLEN 30 year old
Still fresh and briny on the nose, it carries dry sand and a citric lime-y style …. not massively Islay in character yet.
But on the palate it is peppery, peaty and warmingly spiced as it is held – running then to subtle light tarry and
creosote engine room flavours. On the finish all these combine to create a warm spiced, ashy, sooty character. (F)

Lastly, the PREMIER BARREL Tasting Notes are (with apologies):

PBR0078 BRAEVAL 11 year old
Bravo! A breathtaking Braeval! Subtly sweet scented spices balance a bastion of barley – no bunkum! No badinage!
or balderdash! Try tackling the tantalising (treacle?) toffee too: totally tremendous, truly! (F)

PBR0079 BUNNAHABHAIN 12 year old
Go for the “full Bunna”! familiarly fresh, saliently salty, celestially clean – with oscillating ozone and a halcyon
herbal heritage ….. it portrays a palpable packet of peat. (F)

That was a lot of reading for you – for which accept our repeated apologises. As always we hope to be of assistance to you and send you our best regards,

Fred Laing

Exclusive Bottling for Companions of the Quaich

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Companions of the Quaich Bowmore has labelled 300 bottles of their Craftsman’s Collection bottling for the club. The bottling is normally only available at the distillery for around £120, but is available to members of the Companions of the Quaich through the Kensington Wine Market for the low low price of $120 + GST. These 300 bottles are from a total run of around 3000 bottles and are available only in limited quantities. About 240 of the 300 bottles are already spoken for.
 
BOWMORE CRAFTSMAN’S COLLECTION – MALTMAN’S SELECTION – 3000 bottles:

Colour – Warm deep amber.
Nose – Aromas of demerara sugar, prunes and cherry chocolate liqueurs are complemented with lightly smoked oak chips.
Palate – Incredibly complex with rich cocoa butter, burnt zesty orange peel and delicious dark chocolate underpinned with a dry peat smokiness.
The finish is long and sweet with just a hint of peat smoke.

To Order Please Contact Andrew Ferguson at the Kensington Wine Market in Calgary.
403-283-8000
www.kensingtonwinemarket.com
scotchguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com

Willett Family Estate 6 Year Old Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon

$49.99

This remarkably complex bourbon is beautifully spiced, showing citrus with a touch of vanilla.  The mid-palate slowly goes towards toasted coconut and almonds.  Amazing flavors for a young whiskey.  With a feisty finish that packs lots of heat, this one’s not for the fainthearted. 

Barrel #703
59.5% ABV.

History

The Willett family distillers brought their distilling knowledge with them from England to the American Colonies in the early 1600’s.  Before coming to the colonies, they had utilized their knowledge and practiced their talents for many years.  They distilled brandy in France, where the Family originated. 

In Bardstown, KY  the “Bourbon Center” of the world- the Willett family became involved with developing several of the most famous bourbon distilleries of the area.  In the early 1900’s they decided to build their family owned and operated distillery.  In 1935 they named the distillery “The Willett Distilling Company”and has been operated by several generations of Willett family distillers since its very beginning.  Today the distillery is home to “Kentucky Bourbon Distiller, Ltd” and is still run by a member of the Willett family.

Visit D&M at www.dandm.com

MEDIA RELEASE
June 2010

CAOL ILA  – NEW, BUT OLDER

A new member of the Caol Ila™ family of single malt Scotch whiskies has been announced by Diageo.

A 25 year old single malt Scotch Whisky is now joining this highly popular and award-winning collection. Caol Ila has been distilled on the eastern shore of Islay since 1846.

Tasters have described the 25-year-old Caol Ila (bottled at 43% ABV) as majestic, sweet, smooth, slow-burning  –  and with an elegant, lightly smoky profile that brings to mind the faint yet resolute outline of the distillery itself, silhouetted in the soft moonlight of a still winter’s night. Yet it is welcome as an authentic example of that Caol Ila character first seen in the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Here are all those spicy sea-air aromas and sweet smoky-dry flavours, but with the subtlety of expression that comes only with age.

It will be the most mature member of the dynasty, standing alongside a 12 year old, an 18 year old, a natural cask strength bottling, a Distillers Edition™, and some limited edition younger expressions.

The new bottling is presented in a strengthened version of  the same striking black and grey cartons as the regular series, but with a pull-off  front-facing lid. The distillery looks to the east: the evening darkness falls early here at Caol Ila. So the pack image for the 25 year old hints at the vestiges of daylight fading behind Cnoc Dubh, the Black Hill behind the distillery.

Notes

Distribution

The Caol Ila 25 year old will initially be available in the UK, the Nordic markets, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan and in travel retail channels in Europe.

The UK Recommended Retail Price is £135.

Caol Ila, Islay.

Built in 1846, the distillery sits locked away on a small hidden cove near Port Askaig  on the eastern shore of Islay overlooking the fast-moving Straits of Islay and the Paps of Jura beyond. It uses its own supply of water from nearby Loch Nam Ban.

International awards for Caol Ila

Caol Ila 12 year old has been awarded numerous medals at international competitions, including IWSC Gold Medals, 2004, 2005; IWSC Gold – Best in Class 2008; IWSC Silver Medal 2006, San Francisco Double Gold 2006 and 2010, Silver 2007, Gold 2008, 2009; The Scotch Whisky Masters 2010 – Master.

Caol Ila 18 year old has won IWSC Gold Medals 2004, 2005, Silver 2007, Gold – Best in Class 2008; San Francisco Double Gold 2006.

The Caol Ila Cask Strength expressions won IWSC Silver Medal, 2005, 2007, 2008; Silver-Best in Class 2006. San Francisco Double Gold 2006.

Caol Ila Distillers Edition™ (Moscatel Cask Wood Finish) won IWSC Silver – Best in Class 2007, 2008; San Francisco – Gold Medal 2010; The Scotch Whisky Masters 2010 – Gold.

The range grows

It was back in 2002 that the core Caol Ila range (12 year old, 18 year old  and cask strength) was relaunched in the current livery at that year’s Islay Festival. Although Caol Ila was a notable 19th century distillery, its malts, despite their classic provenance and great ancestry, had not been widely available before then.

The Distillers Edition expression joined them in 2006.

There have also been younger and unpeated versions of Caol Ila, issued annually as part of the Classic Malt Selections™ Special Releases series.
In 2004 and 2005, limited editions (6000 bottles) of 25-year-old Caol Ila were released in the same series, but none have been available since then.

The Classic Malts Selection, Caol Ila, and Distillers Edition words and associated logos are trade marks. © 2010

July Outturn Previews:

Save £40 on all six with our Holiday Case Offer

We’ve packed your Summer Holiday Case for you, all you have to do is enjoy the sunshine.  Buy all six previews this July and save a massive £40.

93.39 Master and commander
Campbeltown
£42.20 inc. Free P&P
 The full bodied taste had crème caramel, onion chutney, raisin and cake mix; cherry pie, blueberries and prunes came later
                                                                              
121.35 Simple yet complex
Highland Island
£39.20 inc. Free P&P
Surprisingly mellow; reminiscent of Madeira or mulled wine (with spices), then a dried fruit complex (figs, sultanas, raisins, dates)

77.20 Honeysuckle, jasmine and fern
Highland Northern
£65.40 inc. Free P&P
The nose had elements of putty, plasticine and poster paints, then perfumes of honeysuckle, jasmine, fern and sweet

3.159 Tic-tacs and tar-mac
Islay
£65.40 inc. Free P&P
PVA glue, waxed paper and soor plooms; then a tsunami of liquorice, tar, burnt heather and the string from Arbroath smokies or kabanos

35.40 Horse lick whisky
Speyside Lossie
£70.40 inc. Free P&P
Scrumptious and lively, offering polished leather, orange oil, molasses, coffee and toffee – with impressively swelling heat

2.78 Kissed up by sweet promises
Speyside Spey
£65.40 inc. Free P&P
Plum blossom, cherry wood shavings, lilac and candied angelica; then lovely sweet promises kissed up – vanilla, honeycomb, Ferrero Rocher

Summer Holiday Case Offer: Buy all six for £308

Enjoy all six July Outturn Previews (and our Summer Holiday Case Offer) at our venues: The Vaults, 28 Queen Street, 19 Greville Street

Dare to be different: Sample four July Previews @
Aberdeen Malmaison, Birmingham & Brighton Hotel du Vin
Enjoy 125.35 & 3.159 along with 39.76 & 7.58 (we’ll say no more).

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events
Pan-Asian Curry Experience – London, Sat 26 Jun
A night with Richard Paterson – London, Mon 28 Jun
Glenmorangie Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 1 July
World Cup Quarter Final Viewing – Queen Street, Fri 2 July
World Cup Quarter Final Viewing – Queen Street, Sat 3 July
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 3 July
New Outturn & Sunday Roast Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 4 July
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Mon 5 July
World Cup Semi Final Viewing – Queen Street, Tue 6 July
World Cup of Drams – Queen Street, Wed 7 July
World Cup Final: Viewing & BBQ – Queen Street, Sun 11 July
World Cup Final Viewing – London, Sun 11 July

Visit www.smws.co.uk to join the Society

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Managers’ Choice’

The final release of Diageo’s Managers’ Choice is now available

You may Visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at https://www.lfw.co.uk/

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk