“I’m ecstatic that in my fifteenth year of maturing whiskies in Octave casks that I now have a range that actually is called “The Octave from Duncan Taylor”.

Many years ago, more years than I care to remember, I made small casks as a Cooper at Glendronach Distillery for private clients of the Distillery. I always noticed that they produced fantastic spirit over a very short period. They were fun to make and to supplement my meager wages! I began to make Octave and Firkinsize casks for friends, family and if truth be told for anyone that would buy them. I remember filling them with whatever malts I could lay my hands on from the local “off licence”. After a few months maturation the resultant spirit was totally unlike what had come out of the bottle! In fact it was hugely better, it was invigorated! Hence our strapline “Octave Invigorated”!

For those of you who like historics, I actually started producing Octaves in a commercial way around 1994, selling as far afield as Japan where there still may be a few “behind bars” up in Miyagi where most of them were sold to a delightful old gentlemen with a restaurant chain. In 1999, I produced a special Millenium Octave for, yes your right, the Millenium. If anyone has any of those still around I would be delighted to hear from you.

Our new bottlings of the 2009 maturation are now out and ready for you to enjoy. Email me at octaves@duncantaylor.com

Loch Fyne Whiskies News has stocked a new item, ‘Inverarity 12yo Blend “Alasdair
Gray”‘
 Inverarity 12yo Blend
 Label and box artwork by Alasdair Gray
 40% abv
 £29.90 inc vat
 £26.00 ex vat
 
https://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2009/12/23/inverarity-12yo-blend-alasdair-gray/

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

Bruichladdich Octomore 2.2 Orpheus 5yo OB 61%Abv.

The Joynson reports:

A 5yo from Bruichladdich matured in Ch Petrus casks.

140 ppm at distillation and limited to 15000 bottles.

Aware of how keen you lot are to learn of my pontifications I’m performing this sampling session on the Oban – Glasgow bus (to a boozy lunch).

I’ve tried Red Octomore a couple of times over the weekend, without pen, and my best despeiption to date is “peat cordial”.

Now with ‘The Lamb lies down on broadway’ (Genesis’ prog-rock monsterpiece – but the right length for the voyage) piped into my lugs here is a final attempt at a definate note, I have a wee glass and a decanted miniature as my aperatus, and a grip on the seat in front to hold my glass while I iType, perfect!.

Peaty. Very-very oily. Fruity (lemons). Mostly oily-peat. I don’t know how this has been polished off, these days it’s better to taste without the USP baggage, to report on the real merits of a dram. Some posh wine that I’ve never heard of no doubt. Over the gums; more peat, great heat and some tingle. An oily swallow. Peat and bitter start to the finish, a shouldering bonfire haaa.

Water, (Volvic – I’m afraid) produces a fresh-field perfume but it’s still peaty. The bloke who has just sat next to me is giving me ‘looks’ but I’m not playing his game, the fug of peat about me must be raising curiosity, to say the least! Water does not do much to reveal more but does make it more pleasant.
Conclusion. Very-very peaty cordial. Not my style at all but it has made the journey from Cairndow to Luss at 9am much more pleasant, oh look there’s a bit left! Slainte!

Boring bit: on the Malt Whisky Flavour Map i’d put this in square E10, smoky.

 Dave, please add the technical stuff.

Flavour Map Ref: E10
Smoky
See full information here…

Price excluding VAT: £69.48
£79.90 Including VAT at 15%

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

Hmmm, Whisky Intelligence suspects a boozy breakfast, however well done none the less!

Springbank Releases 2010

Loch Fyne Whiskies reports Springbank have announced their forthcoming releases for the coming year (release dates subject to change)…

Springbank 12yo Claret, limited to 9000 bottles (January 2010)
Springbank 18yo, limited to 9000 bottles (January 2010)
Springbank CV (January 2010)
Springbank 12yo Cask Strength (March 2010)
Hazelburn 12yo,  limited to 4650 bottles (August 2010)
Kilkerran Work in Progress 2, limited to 15000 bottles (May 2010)

Visit Springbank Distillery at http://www.springbankwhisky.com/

1981 AMOROSO FINESSE

The Dalmore Distillery have just announced the release of a brand new and strictly limited expression – The 1981 Amoroso Finesse.

This stunning single malt has spent 26 years in American white oak bourbon barrels followed by a short, intense period in Amoroso sherry casks from world renowned bodega Gonzalez Byass.

With just 484 bottles available worldwide*, this is a truly unique opportunity to obtain one of the world’s most revered malt whiskies.

To secure your bottle, contact The Dalmore Distillery
on +44 (0)1349 882 362.

Available to pre-order from all good malt whisky stores*.

Find out more about The 1981 Amoroso Finesse at http://www.thedalmore.com/1981amoroso/

*The 1981 is not currently available in the USA or Canada (Bah).

Octomore 2.2 Orpheus – In-Stock

3rd release of the certified peat monster. Limited edition bottles.

£82.99 (£72.17 ex VAT)

Order yours today from the http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com/

‘Octave Invigorated’

Single Malts Direct are proud to be the first to offer Duncan Taylor’s Octave Collection of single malt and grain whiskies.  We are offering these first bottlings exclusively to you as a Single Malts Direct customer, there are 3 types available in the range initially, Bowmore 1982 @ £89.99inc VAT, Caperdonich 1972 @ £114.99 inc VAT  and Cameronbridge 1978 @ £79.99 inc VAT.  These can be purchased individually or as a trio for £250.00 inc VAT

The Caperdonich bottle will be provided with a signed certificate (see below) to show the authenticity of this first release, each bottle is numbered and signed by Euan Shand of Duncan Taylor.  Caperdonich is even more highly sought after amongst drinkers and collectors alike due to the recent news that the distillery will officially never produce whisky again, therefore a great collectors item and a must have however this bottling should be drank so why not buy 2, one to drink and one to add to your collection!

The whisky in the Octave Range has not been chill-filtered or coloured, whiskies were originally matured in standard sized casks before undergoing Sherry Octave Invigoration for the final three months.  This process has energized and added vitality to the whiskies as shown by the before and after tasting notes on the back label of the bottles.  Each Octave has produced only 70 bottles and each cask is uniquely numbered.  Grab your chance of being one of the first in the Octave revolution.

 Tasting Notes

 Caperdonich

 Before:  Green apples, mown grass, lemon, lime, sweet.

 After: Tutti fruity sweets, slightly medicinal, spicy oak, red fruits, white pepper.

Bowmore

 Before: Warm grass, slightly smoky, spirit.

 After: Balsam, bananas, rice pudding, crushed heracleum maximum, rounded.

Cameronbridge

 Before: Dry straw, spicy, peppery, alcohol buzz.

 After: Sweet, creamy, light cinnamon, sweet tea, citrus.

Ardbeg 21 Year Old, Committee Reserve 2001

Rare limited release 2001 Ardbeg Committee bottling. A vatting (or blended-malt) of 12 ex-bourbon casks from 1979 & 1980.

2,500 bottles.

Ardbeg is generally peaty, rich, smooth and very complex. Sweet malt, sea salt, dried fruits and rich Islay peat reek. Subject to closures, most recent reopening was 1998; the new 10 year was unveiled in 2008.

Product Details

Age: 21 Years Old
Volume: 70cl
ABV: 56.3%
Bottler: Distillery Bottling

Caperdonich 36 Year Old, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld

Single cask #7446. Bottled 2009, this is a 36-year old Caperdonich from the award winning Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld series.

283 numbered bottles.

Founded in 1897 and opened in 1898 with the somewhat reductive title of Glen-Grant No 2 Distillery. It was conceived at a time when whisky sales were on the up and up, Glen-Grant needed extra capacity and so a new distillery was commissioned. No 2 opened when whisky sales crashed and subsequent wars and prohibition inhibited a recovery. And so having closed in 1902 it remained mothballed until 1965 when the stills were fired up once again. Closed again in 2002, and still closed.

Product Details

Age: 36 Years Old
Vintage: 1972
Volume: 70cl
ABV: 51.1% (Cask Strength)
Bottler: Duncan Taylor

Brora 30 Year Old, 2002 Release

A much sought after malt from the closed Highland distillery. The first official bottling of Brora for the Diageo Annual Release series.

3,000 bottles released in 2002.

Founded 1819 and renamed Brora in 1975. From the early 1970s until closure in 1983 it produced a highly peated malt. Still in situ after a quarter of a century of silence are its red brick chimney, pagoda, bellcote topped with gilded weather cock, external wooden worm tub, miniscule gauger’s house and two wee copper stills.

Product Details

Age: 30 Years Old
Volume: 70cl
ABV: 52.4%
Bottler: Distillery Bottling

Visit www.thewhiskybarrel.com for pricing and shipping details.

HIGHLAND PARK LAUNCHES TASTING COLLECTION

Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky has for the first time launched a Tasting Collection allowing consumers to sample five of Highland Park’s award-winning single malts.

Assuring undeniable quality with Orcadian hallmarks of smokiness, peat and heather-honey, the Tasting Collection comprises five 5cl miniatures of the most popular Highland Park expressions, 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old.

First in the range, Highland Park 12 year old is lauded as “the greatest all rounder in the world of malt whisky” by late drinks writer Michael Jackson and embodies a rounded smokey sweetness to appeal to whisky devotees and newer consumers alike.

Highland Park 15 year old is an exceptionally fine whisky with a remarkably complex nose and the flavour from the rich, mature oak casks makes a truly smooth and satisfying malt.

Recently named ‘the best spirit in the world’* for the second consecutive time, Highland Park 18 year old boasts rich full flavour with hints of honey and peat with a soft, long rounded finish.

Highland Park 25 year old, neat to enjoy, is an immense vanilla sensation with the characteristic honey sweetness developing into complex aromas of cinnamon, nuts and dark fruit. 

The fifth in the collection, Highland Park 30 year old is merited with time and attention and bursts fudge sweetness together with complex aromatic spices and dark chocolate orange.

Priced at £42.50 (RRP), the Tasting Collection is presented in a stylish windowed box with tasting notes for each expression. It is available online at www.highlandpark.co.uk and at whisky specialists nationwide.

-Ends-

Issued by The BIG Partnership on behalf of Maxxium/Highland Park

 For further information or photography, please contact:

Linda Edstrand / Sarah McDonald, The BIG Partnership

Tel: 0131 555 5522

Email: linda.edstrand@bigpartnership.co.uk or sarah.mcdonald@bigpartnership.co.uk

Please enjoy our brand responsibly.
www.highlandpark.com
www.drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

* Paul Pacult named Highland Park 18 year old ‘Best Spirit in the World’ for the second consecutive time in his Top 115 Spirits in June 2009 and in his last Spirits Journal rating in June 2005. 

Highland Park:

Five keystones contribute to making the Best Spirit in the World:

·         Hand-turned malt adds to the deliciously succulent, balanced layers of aromatic character found in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

·         Aromatic peat gives a delectably seductive, luxuriant floral sweetness to Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

·         Cool maturation enhances the smooth character of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

·         Sherry oak casks contribute to the distinctive richness and multi-dimensional complexity of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

·         Cask harmonisation ensures consistency and balance in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world.  For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection.   Its range of 12, 15, 18, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malts is consistently acclaimed by connoisseurs and experts.  Highland Park has won a string of prestigious awards across its portfolio, most recently including ‘best new whisky release of the year 2009’ for its 40-year-old single malt and ‘best whisky in the world 2009’ for its 21-year-old expression in the World Whisky Awards, as well as four double gold awards in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009.

Sarah McDonald

 Account Executive

The BIG Partnership

Suite 4/3, Great Michael House, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh, EH6 7EZ

Tel: 0131 555 5522
Fax: 0131 554 3742
www.bigpartnership.co.uk

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Glengoyne Scottish Merchants’
Choice’

Not often you get yer monika on a bottle…

Glengoyne Scottish Merchants’ Choice 12yo
57.8% abv
£99.00 inc vat
£86.09 ex vat

Distilled 16 December 1996

Bottled November 2009

Limited to 284 bottles from a Sherry hogshead.

Joynson speaks;

Way back in August “some of the best known and highly regarded whisky merchants’ (sic apostrophe) in Scotland” gathered at Glengoyne Distillery. Their task was to choose a cask good enough to be this year’s only release of Glengoyne’s Choice series. A rare privilege for us as we follow on from the various distillery workers’ Choice bottlings. There was a lot of squabbling but in the end we elected for a 12yo sherry hoggie with a yield of just 284 bottles and I’m very happy with this one. We also argued about it’s name, packaging and price. (Thankfully we all agreed we did not want our picture on the label!).

We did agree to put on the label:

Appearance: Golden Amber

Nose: Great first impression, butterscotch, cloves, leather, spice. Seville oranges with an underlay of chocolate, fabulous balance.

Palette: Elegantly rich with sundried fruits, pears, hints of pepper, fresh.

Finish: Plays nicely as it finishes.

My own contemporary notes just say: “This one, ace!”

You may view the latest item at
https://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2009/12/16/glengoyne-scottish-merchants-choice/

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