The Macphunn 18yo 57% November 2009

Bottled November 2009

Fascinating story here… (from LFW)

Price excluding VAT: £59.91
£68.90 Including VAT at 15%

This fourth cask (dated November 2009) of a single sherry-matured Speysider at cask strength bottled for Sir Charles Maclean of Strachur, Loch Fyne.

As a counter to the last bottling which was as black as black is, this one glows from within like amber – the stone rather than amber the colour, a real shine!

Another big sherry-wood dram, but not over the top, so you can speculate that it’s from American oak rather than European, I’ve no idea, but that seems a good, pointless discussion to start with, this is going to be a long and enjoyable evening…

Macphunn ‘November 2009’ (as described on the label to distinguish it from previous bottlings) is a single sherry butt with a whopping yield of 610 bottles. Inside there is golden syrup to begin with… A nice intro then the real drama starts with a tannic note that twists into an increasingly sherry-sulphury crescendo that never seems to level off – or end – until the swallow when the match-heads peak and the tongue is left as a well-sprung dance-floor for Indiana Jones to fandango! There is a smoky residue that fades with the credits.

Another boffo Macphunn, I’m taking one to share with my chums this evening, let speculation begin! I don’t want to call all Macphunns ‘ace’ because it questions the accolade, but it’s definitely boffo.

THE KEEPER OF DUNCONNEL IN THE ISLES OF THE SEA

or

A TALE OF TWO CHARLIES

“The Macphunn” was the whisky of Sir Fitzroy Maclean’s hotel, The Creggans in Strachur across Loch Fyne from Inveraray. Named after Archie Macphunn who was hung ’till deid’ for sheep stealing in about 1608 – yet recovered once revived with an interesting whisky cocktail. Sir Fitzroy is no longer with us but his son Charles Maclean (no, not that one) has revived the brand. For his first bottling Charles Maclean (yes that one) has selected a single cask of an 18 year old sherry matured Speyside single malt and it is exceptional, a yield of under 300 bottles so don’t delay.

In case you don’t know, Sir Fitzroy is considered to be the inspiration for our James Bond. Charles Maclean (no, not that one) denies any such claim but it has been noted that he has never been seen in the same room as Charles Maclean (yes, that one) at the same time, I tried to get a picture of Charles (the other one) but it proved very difficult…

Sir Charles

Charlie Maclean (no, the other one)’s tasting note:

Old MacPhunn 18YO (the first ONE)
Single cask Speyside @56.9%Vol

Appearance: Deep amber. Big beads, medium linger

Aroma: A big, rich nose, with only slight prickle. Dry marzipan and fruit cake moistened with Madeira. The cake has burnt edges, which after a while lend a slightly smoky scent to the whisky. The marzipan segues into almonds; there are cherries in the cake. Nose flattens somewhat when water is added and the fruity notes shift slightly, now joined by buttery/oily notes.

Flavour: Tasted straight, the overall flavour is very sweet, rich and warming, with a soft, full texture. Slightly tannic and mouth drying. Long finish. Drinks well straight, but benefits from a drop of water (two tea-spoons). The texture remains viscous; the taste not so sweet. Now there are some light gorse notes, with spice (allspice and white pepper) – the pepper stimulating the tongue and warming the throat.

Comment: A warming, reviving dram – perfect for recovering from a hanging! Unusually for a whisky drawn from a European oak cask, there is no trace of sulphur, and remarkably little tannic dryness. An exceptional example of this Top Class malt.

According to Our Joynson, this is a dram that will soon become as legendary as the stoy that give it its name.

To purchase MacPhunn November 2009 visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at http://www.lfw.co.uk/

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010

Over 3,850 whiskies tasted and evaluated by the most famous nose in world whisky, Jim Murray.  The most comprehensive whisky guide ever written, now further expanded with around 1,000 new entries and hundreds more updated.

The best selling ratings guide to all types of whisky, including Scotch single malt, blends, vatted malts, single grains; Irish pot still, malts, blends, grains; Bourbon, rye, Japanese, Canadian, Australian, European and many others.

Detailed, professionally analysed yet easy to understand tasting notes on more than 3,850 of the world’s leading and lesser-known whiskies.

Reviews of all that’s new and worth looking out for in the world of whisky.

Specially designed for quick and easy reference in any liquor store or supermarket.  Each whisky evaluated by celebrated whisky guru Jim Murray in his unique, forthright, honest, amusing, fiercely independent and non-pretentious style.

The perfect gift. Or just an essential aid for yourself.

ISBN:978-0-9554729-4-7   Publishers: Dram Good Books Limited
ISBN:0-9554729-4-6
$21.95

360 pages + cover and jacket

You make order your copy of the 2010 Whisky Bible from Meluki at http://store.meluki.ca/ or 604-925-4415 (tel)

Our latest new bottlings comprised of eleven (11) from the OLD MALT CASK, three (3) of the CLAN DENNY Old Grains (in its new livery) with one from OLD & RARE, the fourth batch of BIG PEAT (who is currently setting the Islay heather alight!) and one last Anniversary bottling “For The Road”.

Tasting notes follow:

The OLD MALT CASK Tasting Notes follow:

OMC 1786 HIGHLAND PARK 12 YEAR OLD
Nose: Fresh & clean + toffee + stewed strawberries + liquorice
Palate: Opens sweet, still fresh, runs to light smoke and tobacco
Finish: Short but complex with gentle smoke and a maritime style (J)

OMC 1799 Mortlach 12 YEAR OLD
Nose: Sweet with stewed fruit & home baking + rhubard crumble (?)
Palate: More stewed fruit, now with an interestingly spicy character.
Finish: Medium long, remains sweet & fruity, carries to nuts & plums (J)

OMC 1793 BEN NEVIS 13 YEAR OLD WINE FINISHED
Nose: Carries syrup, lemon sherbet and macerated fruit.
Palate: Citric, syrupy and spiced + vanilla fudge and light smoke.
Finish: Spicey sweet, peppery, with more smoke/more spice (F)

OMC 1785 LAPHROAIG 13 YEAR OLD
Nose: Sweet & smoky. Honey on burnt toast + a maritime quality
Palate: Opens sweetly runs quickly to peat smoke, tar and creosote
Finish: Long with damp bonfire ashes, iodine and more peat smoke (J)

OMC 1780 GLENLIVET 13 YEAR OLD SHERRY
Nose: Barley sugar + macerated mandarins + soft sweets
Palate: Round + sweet spices, orange zest + dark chocolate
Finish: A spicy oak character + an orange tang linger on (J)

OMC 1787 GLENLIVET 17 YEAR OLD
Nose: Clean, spicy and gristy. Lightly citric (+ pomade?)
Palate: Nicely replicates the palate + toffee/sugared butter
Finish: Well balanced and subtle – replicating nose and palate. (F)

OMC 1788 MACALLAN 19 YEAR OLD RED WINE FINISH
Nose: Opens with a baked quality + red fruit & cream + soft leather
Palate: Overall fresh & fruitily sweet + cream & fruit character returning
Finish: Medium long – still sweet, gristy, with a red fruit tang (J)

OMC 1779 CRAGGANMORE 20 YEAR OLD
Nose: Opens with vanilla + fruit, develops to strawberry + cream
Palate: Round, still sweet runs to ripe peaches and soft spices
Finish: Medium long, remains fresh and fruity + more vanilla (J)

OMC 1791 HIGHLAND PARK 26 YEAR OLD SHERRY
Nose: Fruity and spiced initially. It runs to clean and dry ozone.
Palate: Hallmarked “sherry” it becomes lightly smoked, spiced and drier.
Finish: Carries barley sugar, cough sweets and more spices. (F)

OMC 1792 GLEN GRANT 34 YEAR OLD
Nose: Barleyed and toffee’d with buttered sugar and citrus.
Palate: Initially light – running to spices, syrup and honey.
Finish: Distinctly smoked + more toffee, sugar and spices. (F)

OMC 1778 BLAIR ATHOL 35 YEAR OLD
Nose: Old fashioned sweetshop: polished wood, cedar, mixed fruit caramels
Palate: Complex, round, sweet + mouthcoating spices + stewed caramelized fruit.
Finish: More spices + burnt caramel on fruit: a “tarte tatin” character. (J)

The OLD & RARE Tasting Note follows:

OAR 0080 BRORA 28 YEAR OLD SHERRY
Barley sugar sweet initially on the nose – it then runs citrically fruited, spicy, and displays some of its Sherry cask heritage – lightly oaked – plus something interestingly oceanic. Palate wise it carries some
desiccating salt – yet is backed by that same earlier barley and fruit, plus a tobacco – and – mocha character. That all runs to a massivly sweet, spicy and warming style, with a light peated quality. (F)

The CLAN DANNY (OLD GRAIN) Tasting Notes follow:

DEN 0026 NORTH BRITISH 30 YEAR OLD
Discover vanilla tablet with a light smoky character on the nose. The palate opens oily, with Chinese spices, then a sweet and nutty style develops to caramelised fruit and butter. The finish is long for a Grain with soft sweet spices and orange zest. (J)

DEN 0027 NORTH OF SCOTLAND 35 YEAR OLD
This is fresh with macerated fruit, interesting spices plus sweet toffee/milky coffee and vanilla on the nose. Rich spices and flambee’ed oranges run on the palate with a hint of smoke and leather. On the medium long finish, detect a zesty orange tang and a burnt caramel sweetness. (J)

DEN 0029 INVERGORDON 44 YEAR OLD
Amazing attractive sweetness appearing on the nose with banoffee pie, creamy caramel flan and rich vanilla. The palate is spicy, still sweet with almonds and a coffee liqueur style. The finish is not so long but deliciously round with caramelized oranges. (J)

North of Scotland 1975 35yo
The Tasting Notes for Anniversary “One for the Road” Bottling of Speyside’s Finest 18 Year Old (Wine finished): are for information only as they do not appear on the label. Nose : Gristy sweet with barley sugar and black cherries
Palate: Warmingly spiced, chewy, with sweet leather – a mulled wine character. Finish: Long and dry – still spicy with an oak tang (J)

Best wishes
Fred Laing

Visit Douglas Laing at http://www.douglaslaing.com/

Loch Fyne Whiskies News has stocked two new items:

 Port Dundas 1973 36yo Duncan Taylor
 54.1% abv
 £88.90 inc vat
 £77.30 ex vat

 Black Bull 12yo
 50% abv
 £31.50 inc vat
 £27.39 ex vat

 ‘…a big, beefy highland style of blend…’

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

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

There are eight (8) new PROVENANCE bottlings this month.

The PROVENANCE Tasting Notes follow:

PRV 0593 BRAEVAL 10 YEAR OLD SHERRY
Toffee – distinctly vanilla’d in style – is the first “hit” – running to citrus and mixed sweet spices. On the palate there is an electric “tang” before the toffee, vanilla, citrus fruit and spices are replicated. The finish is a wee bit drier, lightly smoked but hints back to toffee and spices. (F)

PRV 0589 LONGMORN 10 YEAR OLD
The nose opens with honey and spices and develops to orange blossom and chewy orange caramels. The palate is attractively sweet with barley sugar and more spices. The finish is long with on orange tang, sweet spices and soft leather lingering on. (J)

PRV 0590 AUCHENTOSHAN 11 YEAR OLD
Herbally perfumed initially on the nose, it warms to something more citric and distinctly sweet. On the palate it is very clean, drier than the nose suggests, barleyed and lightly spiced – all running to a peppered, gingery and spiced finish. (F)

PRV 0580 BENRINNES 11 YEAR OLD BOURBON FINISH
The nose carries a rich and spicy sweetness, vanilla tablet and is reminiscent of pancakes with maple syrup. The mouthcoating palate is still spicy sweet with apples and cinnamon. The finish is long and rich, sweet, fruitily alcoholic with oak and distinct Bourbon notes from its cask heritage. (J)

PRV 0588 GLEN ORD 11 YEAR OLD
The initial fruit character on the nose is fresh and develops to creamy vanilla and biscuit style. The palate is still sweet, with a macedonia of fruit, peaches in syrup, gooseberries and plums. The finish is medium long, soft with an oak tang. (J)

PRV 0587 CAPERDONICH 12 YEAR OLD
Fresh, floral on the nose, a macedonia of fruit, runs to biscuits and cream. The palate is sweet, still fresh and carries more fruit and an orange tang. The finish is not so long but interestingly spiced with barley sugar and a burnt caramel sweetness (J)

PRV 0592 CLYNELISH 12 YEAR OLD
Detect barley and grist on the nose, reminiscent of a stroll in a malt barn, allied to a sweet liquorice style. The palate is clean and sweet, then spices and an oak character develop before it all runs to a herbaceous style. On the finish gentle smoke and ashes appear plus some burnt caramel. (J)

PRV 0591 ARRAN 12 YEAR OLD
Fresh and sweet throughout on the nose with spices, distinct toffee and pear drops appearing later. The palate remains sweet with a stewed fruit and warm oranges character. The finish replicates the palate with sweet spices and an attractive oak character. (J)

Visit Douglas Laing at  http://www.douglaslaing.com/

WHISKY KILT

Visit our website and buy a ‘Whisky kilt’ for a very special birthday gift, Christmas present, or treat yourself and dress to kill! No one will doubt your passion of the amber nectar / Scotch whisky. The Whisky Kilt is guaranteed to get you noticed.

www.whiskykilt.com

Kilchoman 2nd Release – On-line 22nd December 2pm
No pre-orders, and not available for delivery before the New Year.

Visit Royal Mile Whiskies at

Royal Mile Whiskies
Office: 0131 5249380 (all mail order enquiries here please!)
379 Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 1PW
Tel: 0131 225 3383

3 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QE
Tel: 0207 436 4763

info@royalmilewhiskies.com

Whiskies of Scotland 1997 12 Year Old Imperial Distillery 55%

This is an extremely drinkable expression from Imperial distillery, bottled exclusively for our Shop, “Whiskies of Scotland”. We won’t bottle just anything, hence the reason you don’t see too many bottling under this label, however, if you do then you know you can trust its quality. This bottling was chosen by Ronnie Routledge, our shop manager who, as a “Keeper of the Quaich

Nose: Freshly cut hay and floral aromas to the fore, with sweet fudge and a light milky cocoa notes following on. This is a light to medium dram with notes of sawn oak and extremely gentle spices and the merest hints of sweet pineapple. The high strength is not so apparent on the nose.

Palate: Light at first sip, firming up as the juicy fruits develop and tickle the tip of your tongue. A sweet and sour sensation plays with your taste buds when you add a couple of drops of water, initially sweet, then a briny, savoury blanket fills your palate before spiky fruity notes poke through and turn things around again into a sweet, tropical-fruity delight. Rounded oak-spices emerge late and dance on your tongue with the nutmeg finish.

£37.99 inc. VAT £33.03 ex. VAT

Based on the success of last year’s Johnnie Walker Blue Label engraving, we are conducting 4 more engraving dates in December in the two weeks prior to Christmas. Engravings are complimentary with the purchase of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Please feel free to e-mail to your customers, friends, family and colleagues that you may think would benefit from a great gifting opportunity. If you have never had a chance to try Johnnie Walker Blue Label, please come by and have a dram.

If you cannot read the image, please let me know.

Regards,

Kris Steed
Reserve Brands & Wine Specialist

RESERVE BRANDS GROUP
A division of Diageo Canada

P: (604) 928-7959
F: (604) 542-9400
E: kris.steed@diageo.com
www.weareworldclass.com
“Live, eat, breathe luxury”

 
From the Award Winning BenRiach Distillery, we have two holiday gift packs. These are quite limited, so see below for ordering information.
 
Some exciting news from Scotland – Springbank Distillery has won two prestigious medals for 2010. Whisky Magazine’s Distillery of the Year and Young Ambassador of the Year (for Peter Currie). The award cabinet for our Scotch brands continues to grow…you might recall in 2009 BenRiach won Whisky Magazine’s Distillery of the Year and Malt Advocate’s in 2007 as well as Mark Watt from Duncan Taylor winning Young Ambassador of the Year 2009.
 
GlenDronach is set to arrive next month. After some delays, the whisky is finally going to arrive around December 15th. We will miss the holiday season but you should start seeing it on store shelves in January. We are proud to represent this great line of whiskies! Keep an eye out for cask strength single barrel bottlings in 2010.
 
Duncan Taylor won Jim Murray’s Scotch Grain Whisky of the Year 2010!
 
Hazelburn 12 year old has arrived! This new bottling is from Springbank Distillers and has aged nicely since the last edition of the 8 year old was released.
 
Wishing everyone a warm holiday season.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken Young
Preiss Imports
ken@preissimports.com

 
BenRiach Mini Gift Sets
A Speyside treat for your loved ones
 
Classic Pack 4x50ml

 
Classic & Peated Pack 4x50ml
 
 
What a great gift from Speyside. Two packs are available this holiday, The Classic Pack featuring the “Heart of Speyside”, 12 year old, 16 year old, and 20 year old expressions; and The Classic & Peated Pack featuring their two peated whiskies, 10 year old “Curiositas” and 21 year old “Authenticus” along with the 12 year old and 16 year old regular Speyside malts.
 
These little packs are very limited, so order soon. They are available at the following retailers.
 
Beltramos
Binny’s
D&M Liquor
Hi Time Wines
K&L Wine
Wade’s Wines
Wally’s
The Whisky Shop
Wine Specialist
Wine and Liquor Depot

Springbank: Distiller of the Year 2010
Whisky Magazine declares J&A Mitchell as Distiller of the Year 2010

This is big news for Campbeltown’s oldest running distillery, and the same for their U.S. Importer, Preiss Imports, whose Scotch Suppliers now hold three novel Distillery of the Year Awards over the past 3 years (BenRiach has 2007 and 2009).

This award will quickly dispell rumors about the Springbank Distillery closing down. In 2008, they decided to cut back production due to the high cost of utilities and barley – a prudent step with the global economy the way it is now. After 180 years experience in distilling, they are confident in their decision making.

Be sure to get your hands on their newest release, Kilkerran Work In Progress.

Springbank: Young Ambassador of the Year 2010
Whisky Magazine awards Peter Currie with Young Ambassador of the Year 2010

Peter Currie has certainly made his mark during his tenure at Springbank Distillers. He has become respected throughout the Whisky Community as a Sales and Marketing Manager who has an in-depth knowledge of Scotch Whisky.
 
Congratulations Peter! 
 
Welcome Back A Sleeping Giant

GlenDronach is set to arrive in December, customers anxiously waiting

Back in August, we proudly announced we would be representing the GlenDronach Single Malt Brand for the United States. Since then we debuted these fine sherried whiskies at both WhiskyFest San Francisco and New York. The consumer and trade response has been sensational! We are looking forward to having full distribution of these products in 2010. States will start to receive inventory in Decemeber – sorry but most of you will miss Christmas, hopefully an IOU will do…

Scotch Grain Whisky of the Year
 
Duncan Taylor & Co have been awarded Jim Murray’s World Whisky Awards 2010 for best Scotch Grain of the Year!The winner of this prestigious award is our Rare Auld Grain bottling of
North British 1978, cask Q247, 54.7%alc/vol.
 
 
Jim’s notes and score are as follows:
Nose: The jackpot!! Well, nearly. Everything here I look for from this distillery at this kind of age: a complex, softly spiced layering to the usual corn field. Busy and gloriously three dimensional.
Taste: What a delivery! Canadian from the top drawer in so many aspects! A real fizz to this as the spices move in and break up any corn mafia that’s thinking about dominating proceedings: the starchy backbone also has light banana-vanillas and weak Demerara sugar to contend with.
Finish: Those soft spices spin on even as the corn oils begin to gain a belated foothold. The vanillas are faultless.
Comment: Golden proof that great grain is a match for anything.
Score: 95 points 
 
Hazelburn 12 Now Available 

Hazelburn is named after one of the old Campbeltown Distilleries. Hazelburn is made with unpeated barley, making the spirit light, fruity and very, very subtle. The Hazelburn 12 Year Old is the third release under this label for the U.S. The malt was first distilled in 1997 and every year since. It is triple distilled, and dried over hot air ONLY. No peat is added.

Nose: Incredibly rich, the influence of the sherry casks is immediately apparent. Sweet and chocolatey, there are also notes of apricot, orange marmalade, almonds and marzipan.

Palate: Malty, fruity and elegant. A very well-balanced and rounded dram with hints of oak, figs and nuts.

Finish: A long, lingering fruity sweetness.

Visit Preiss Imports at www.preissimports.com