£66.69

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**available for PRE-ORDER only**

**despatch date – mid July**

Summer Sale 2012 Offerings – July 2012 

Cask No. 73.45 is President’s Choice 

Kissing a freshly perfumed woman 

Cask No. 73.45                     

Highlands, Speyside (Islay) 

The interesting nose had peardrops and polished wood, then cloves and iced cinnamon swirls, also marmalade, orange oil and chocolate oranges; finally Marsala and strawberry syrup. The unreduced palate seemed amazingly mature – orange liqueur, beeswax polish on expensive furniture, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, orange peel, red Chewits (or Campinos) and peach with traces of mint – surprisingly lively. The reduced nose discovered tobacco, scented wood, sherbet, coconut oil and eventually Kummel. The reduced palate, complex, rich and pleasing, had the woodiness of old bourbon and floral perfume – ‘like kissing a freshly perfumed woman’. This 1897 distillery is a ‘sister’ establishment to Craigellachie. 

Drinking tip: For a warm summer evening, with appropriate music and floral perfumes 

Colour: Orange honeycomb                               

Cask: Refill ex-Sherry butt                               

Age: 19 years                                        

Date distilled: March 1992

Alcohol: 56.1% 

$135 

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Lively and explosive

Cask No. 1.159                     

Highlands, Speyside 

An unusual and intriguing wee dram on the nose – hard peaches, wood sap, nutty notes, quince, juniper, flint, Evo-Stik and green ginger – quite clean but was it floral or soapy? The palate was fizzy, lively and tooth-stripping, with explosive ginger heat, granny smith apples, vanilla and mint humbugs. The nose seemed smoother and sweeter with water – cocoa butter, sherbet fountains (with liquorice), ginger beer and lime – quite summery in character. The reduced palate became well-rounded and easy-drinking with some of the deeper botanical ingredients of gin coming through – liquorice, aniseed, angelica and cassia. The distillery sits north of Ben Rinnes. 

Drinking tip: Could be a summery drink, maybe even with ginger ale 

Colour: Sparkling mica gold                             

Cask: First-fill barrel                                       

Age: 11 years                                        

Date distilled: May 2000

Alcohol: 56.2% 

$100

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Barbequed haggis 

Cask No. 10.75                     

Islay, North Shore 

The first impression is not too impressive: solvent, washing up liquid and Coal Tar soap; dried meat, smoked mackerel and charred fish skin, but a pleasant taste of boiled sweets and runny honey on burnt toast, with a trace of fennel and rosemary in the finish and ‘the burnt end of overdone roast beef’. With water the aroma is of dried out haggis, and some allspice: dry overall. The taste is still sweet, then burnt and slightly peppery. Still some haggis, with a thyme-like herbal note and charcoal in the finish. This distillery on the Sound of Islay usually makes un-peated malt. 

Drinking tip: A Burn’s night Barbie on a beach 

Colour: Tarnished silver with pale green lights            

Cask: Refill hogshead                                       

Age: 13 years                                        

Date distilled: December 1997

Alcohol: 55.9% 

$110 

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Rich, sweet and comforting 

Cask No. G5.5                      

Grain 

A treat for the nose – buttered toast with honey and creamy custard to start. Then pencil shavings, airfix glue and marzipan got the mouth watering. The taste was very sweet (honey, vanilla and syrup) with some mild spiciness (pepper) which was warming and comforting. Adding water seemed to dull down the aromas but the sweetness returned with fudge, honey, cereals and then fruits – banana flavoured sweets, orange oil – and demerara sugar. Fresh oak, ginger, orange oil and boiled sweets were on the palate and rounded off a satisfying finish. This Highland grain distillery was built in 1959 to create employment in the local area. 

Drinking tip: For quiet contemplation, but be careful with the water 

Colour: Light copper with pink highlights                    

Cask: Virgin toasted oak hogshead                                

Age: 18 years                                        

Date distilled: May 1993

Alcohol: 65.4% 

$130

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*Members receive $10 off every Society bottle purchased in the month of July 2012.

Visit http://www.smwsa.com/ for more Society information.

Loch Fyne Whiskies News has posted a new item, ‘Chivas Bros Cask Strength’

Hot scoop from the chain gang! We’ve swung our hammer at the rock that is Chivas Brothers and unearthed some interesting 50cl cask strength bottles…

Glenburgie OB 1997 14yo 60.5%alc. 50cl

Miltonduff OB 1997 14yo 58.3%alc. 50cl

Scapa OB 1993 19yo 61.0%alc. 50cl

Longmorn OB 1997 14yo 59.6%alc. 50cl

Glenlivet OB 1992 17yo 59.3%alc. 50cl

Please click HERE to Visit these bottlings at Loch Fyne Whiskies

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

We just returned from an epic journey over the single track roads of Scotland. We found six whiskies that are ARCHIVES worthy. A sixteen years old Imperial that is malty, a little sweet and perfectly balanced. A Glenrothes 1988 that everyones seems to love because it’s so delicious. From the Lowlands a sherried Littlemill that soon will as legendary as the previous one we released. A nicely bodied Longmorn from 1992 that makes everybody smile. We’re especially proud of the 24 years old Isle of Jura, let’s describe this one as distinctive, special and very good. Finally a Tomintoul from the sixties. A dram of this 42 years old Tomintoul can keep you busy for quite some time, an old complex whisky that’s not too woody and has a nice finish.

You can try all six bottlings on our tasting on Tuesday June 26th in Grand Café Branco in Rotterdam. The tasting starts at 19.30 hour. Please email us your name and we’ll reserve a seat for you.

www.whiskybase.com

Loch Fyne Whiskies stock a new item, ‘The return of a legend; anCnoc 35yo..’

anCnoc 35 year old and it’s an Ace…

…(The Joynson speaks)…

In 1999, our Bottling of the Year was “Knockdhu 21yo”, and here it is again, wiser and more eloquent, as a 35yo. Knockdhu Distillery’s product is now sold as An Cnoc (to avoid confusion with Knockando) and once again, I love this distillation.

There is a rich oiliness and the signature Knockdhu ginger-punch (okay an An Cnoc ginger-punch). There is, in no particular order; oranges, leather, fruitcake, sherbet, cocoa, earthy vanilla and then back to citric, and that’s the undiluted aroma. Adding a spot of water reveals lemon, fudge and berries – blackberries and currants. This is easy describing stuff, there is so much going on, no wonder the 21yo of long ago was so approved of by our customers.

This 35yo is softer than the 21yo on the palette, initially vary well balanced it shuffles onto the bitter (top-back) part of the tongue and shimmies to the sour (back & side) and back and forth. It’s citric and aged; it thickens on the tongue to an orangey-oiliness. It’s soft luxurious and even.

Beautiful ace, a fine venerable whisky, pale gold and on the Flavour Map its in square F4, Complex and Delicate

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

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks A New Item, ‘Laphroaig 18yo Diamond Jubilee’

A limited edition of 3000 special tubes containing the regular Laphroaig 18yo to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

http://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2012/06/07/laphroaig-18yo-diamond-jubilee/

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

1 June 2012 

Dear Client 

This month we have a wide ranging selection of five (5) different OLD MALT CASK bottlings – two (2) OLD AND RAREs – not forgetting two (2) from PREMIER BARREL,  one (1) DOUBLE BARREL together with six (6) ADVANCE SAMPLES. 

Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK: 

OMC2162 GLENLIVET SHERRY 16 YEARS

NOSE:     Sweetly spiced + runs to a dark chocolate character + tobacco
PALATE:                 Opens with a nuts & dried fruit style + a flamed orange zest quality
FINISH:   Now runs drier carrying a polished oak character + rich tannins (J) 

OMC2166 DAILUAINE 15 YEARS

NOSE:     Clean – runs to a sweet, buttery character + home baked style
PALATE: Opens sweetly carrying a vanilla tablet quality + sweet spices
FINISH:   Long, very mellow, still softly spiced + a gentle oak tang (J) 

OMC2167 AUCHENTOSHAN 14 YEARS

NOSE:     Clean & fresh + a sweet creamy character + a dusting of cocoa
PALATE:                 Carries sweet ripe fruits + crushed sugar + a gentle citric quality
FINISH:   Still sweet – now softly spiced + an attractive orange pith style (J) 

OMC2178 LAPHROAIG 11 YEARS

Nose:    Opens with oily rags + soot – then – sweet barley & sweet peat.

Palate:  A feisty big ashyIslay– astringent – tarry & sooty in style.

Finish:   Wamingly spiced with liquorice then more (damp bonfire) ash.  (F) 

OMC2180 TAMNAVULIN 25 YEARS

Nose:      Clean, gristy – soft citric now + “old linen cupboards”.

Palate:    Still clean – zesty – ever so lightly peated + sweet barley.

Finish:    Softly camphor in style + liquorice, more barley & spice.  (F)

The 6 Advance Samples are as follows: 

SMC0417  Speyburn 7 YEARS

SMC0415 Balmenach 9 YEARS

SMC0421 Jura 9 YEARS

SMC0414 Dailuaine  Sherry 12 YEARS

SMC0413 Glen Moray 12 YEARS

SMC0419 Inchgower 12 YEARS 

Tasting Notes for PREMIER BARREL: 

PBR0113 CRAIGELLACHIE SHERRY 12 YEARS

A celestially cracking Craigellachie!…. choc-a-bloc with capricious citrus testifying to a titillatingly tantalising tally of transfixing toffee’d  taste . (F) 

PBR0114 LAPHROAIG 11 YEARS

Love liberally this luminary – this lustrous, laudatory lusty Laphroaig and extol its enchantingly efficacious earthy extracting with its mystifying manifestation of maritime mirth and merriment.  (F) 

Tasting Notes follow here  for OLD AND RARE 

OAR0171  BOWMORE 25 YEARS

Vanilla toffee and chocolate marry with softly smoking peat – morphing into cedar-cigar boxes – hairdressing, liquorice, mothballs? and ozone.  The palate is maritime (big time!) with a salty briny style – rather “different” –  aged and softened  by oak, barley (sugar) and liquorice.  The finish is more phenolic now with ginger plus mixed spice, aniseed and seaweed (F) 

OAR0168 PORT ELLEN 30 YEARS

Salty, briny and oceanic fresh on the nose initially – it then warms to a soft leather armchair style with later citric tones.  Palatewise it is spicy – still maritime plus a soft peated character which develops the longer it is held and “chewed”.  The finish is lightly ashed – still somewhat phenolic and gently smoked.  (F) 

DOUBLE BARREL Tasting Note: 

DBS0035 ARDBEG/GLENROTHES – 7^th RELEASE 

NOSE:     Opens with sweet spices and a floral character from the GLENROTHES and runs to toffee, burnt sugar and cigar ashes delivered by the ARDBEG

PALATE: The palate evolves from GLENROTHES with a mellow, sweetly spiced character to peat smoke, creosote and tar coming from the ARDBEG

FINISH:   Here the ARDBEG lingers with damp ashes, tar and peat smoke softened by the toffee character from the GLENROTHES 

Just as these are enjoyable Tasting Notes to write – so we hope they are of interest and validity to you when reviewing stock requirements.  We believe this month we have offered you a truly wide range of noses/palates and finishes which will intrigue you and your clientele.  We hope to be of service to you and look forward to hearing from you after review.  

Yours faithfully 

Fred H Laing

Managing Director

www.douglaslaing.com

June 2012 Outturn Offerings 

Boiled sweets and grapefruit peel 

Cask No. 17.32                     

Highlands, Orkney 

Bubble-gum and vanilla sponge, with boiled sweets (pear drops and lemon sherbets); apple & elderflower cordial, white wine jelly; after a while a light soapiness. Fresh and clean overall. The taste is sweet, sharp and hot – grapefruit and lemon peel; powdery, with a pinch of salt. The scent of grapefruit skins increase at reduced strength, and the other aromas remain intact – vanilla, lemon sherbets, pear drops, washing powder. The taste is now sweeter and more salty, with light acidity and an aftertaste of lemon bon-bons. A fresh young aperitif from Orkney’s second distillery. 

Drinking tip: A springtime aperitif 

Colour: Pale gold                                              

Cask: Refill barrel                                            

Age: 9 years                                         

Date distilled: January 2002

Alcohol: 56.2% 

$90 

Powerful, elegant and atmospheric 

Cask No. 33.112                   

Islay, SouthShore 

Youthful, powerful – yes – but also elegant and atmospheric – the nose seemed quintessentially Islay – peat fire smoke and bog myrtle – as well as chocolate, beeswax, salty earthiness, tar and carbolic. The unreduced palate had a tongue-shriveling attack, yet with amazing toffee sweetness; birch tar and waxy textures. Water altered the nose to combine seafood saltiness, herbal, pine resin and citrus elements and something savoury (someone suggested lobster and chorizo). The reduced palate evoked lobster or crab from the grill, some leather, plenty of sweetness and a juicy, youthful energy – we thought it stunning. From the distillery that Glenmorangie re-awakened in 1997. 

Drinking tip: With oysters and lemon wedges in the Harbour Inn; fishing boats bobbing outside… 

Colour: Sunlight on Islay                                 

Cask: Second-fill Sherry butt                            

Age: 5 years                                         

Date distilled: December 2005

Alcohol: 60.8% 

$85

Eve’s pudding in a glass 

Cask No. 50.46                     

Lowlands, Borders 

The room was instantly filled with sweet fruity scents – bruised apples, pineapple, set honey; mellow, rich and opulent: Eve’s Pudding (apple topped with soft sponge), or even tarte tatin. The taste at full strength was not so rich: sharp, after a sweet start – one panellist was reminded of ‘strawberry flavoured cornflour’. Water raised soft pastry, tinned pineapple and baked apple, with some dry straw and boiled sweets (travel sweets dusted with icing sugar), and the taste is now much improved: soft and smooth, with light sweetness, a spicy finish and an overall taste of fresh mandarins. A-typical of the make from our southern-most distillery. 

Drinking tip: Chilled, with Eve’s pudding 

Colour: Full gold                                              

Cask: Refill hogshead                                       

Age: 21 years                                        

Date distilled: May 1990

Alcohol: 54.6% 

$145 

Fascinating and inspiring 

Cask No. G7.2                      

Grain 

We found the nose both fascinating and inspiring – lightly varnished wood, then honey, toffee popcorn and marzipan sweetness; fruit cake (raisins and cherries) and Italian sponge (lemon and vanilla). Typical of grain whiskies, the taste lagged slightly behind – but definitely pleasant – peach and apricot, lemonade, manuka honey, toffee, vanilla, scorched wood, almonds and a lemon peel finish. The reduced nose was light and bright – like sunshine on barley; pineapple, pear, marshmallow, meringue, crème brûlée and sugared rose petals! The palate benefited from water – scented wood, incense, Demerara and a little frisson of nutmeg. The distillery is near the Ayrshire coast. 

Drinking tip: Add a touch of water and take time to enjoy the fabulous nose 

Colour: Brassy gold                                           

Cask: Refill hogshead                                       

Age: 27 years                                        

Date distilled: May 1984

Alcohol: 60.3% 

$175

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com

Scotland Blended Scotch

Bank Note Blended Scotch Whisky 1L ($19.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

A.D. Rattray Cask Islay Blended Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($47.99)

Bruichladdich Black Art 2nd Edition 21 Year Old Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($169.99)
Always one of Bruichladdich’s more esoteric offerings, yet by no means less brilliant, the Black Art series alludes to Jim McEwan’s almost devilish ability to conjure up flavors never-before seen in single malt whisky. Using a combination of various wine casks, this 21 year old whisky undergoes a transformation that takes the rich, oily textures of old Bruichladdich and combines it with cherries, blackberries, currants, and a melee of other red-fruited delights. The vanilla and oak come smoothly on the finish. It’s a decadent whisky and it’s always quick to sell out. Grab it while it’s here. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Bruichladdich Organic Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($59.99)

Bunnahabhain 20 Year Old A.D. Rattray Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($125.99)

Glenkinchie 20 year old, Distillery Bottling 750ml – 4 available ($179.00)

Octomore 3 152 ppm Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 7 available ($159.99)

Octomore 4.1 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($169.99)

Octomore 4.2 Comus Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($189.99)
Peated at 167 ppm and run at a slow drip through the still, the Octomore from Bruichladdich is the peatiest whisky in the world. At a whopping 61%, this new 4.2 Comus release has been finished in Chateau d’Yquem casks, adding richness to the bright, almost cinnamon-like peat of the Octomore whisky. Rich golden raisins with a peaty punch in the face. Tropical fruits smoked and caramelized to high heaven. This is not for the faint of heart, yet it’s something everyone should try at least once (and perhaps several times for the truly hedonistic).

PC8 – Port Charlotte Ar Duthchas Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 7 available ($99.99)

Port Charlotte “An Turas Mor” Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($59.99)

Big Peat Islay Vatted Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($59.99)

Oban 18 Year Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $149.99) ($99.99)
91 points Malt Advocate: “Drier, less toffee and fruit, more dried spice and oak when compared to the standard Oban 14 year old. A beautiful combination of rich, nutty toffee balanced by polished oak, salt, pepper, seaweed, distant smoke, and dried fruit. Somewhat oily in texture. Wonderful depth, too! An improvement on what is already the biggest-selling Diageo single malt scotch in the U.S. Very exciting and dynamic. (Vol. 17, #4, by John Hansell)” K&L Notes: Always tough to find – this is a limited edition bottling for the US only. As the cannister states, “only so much can be made, it is never enough.”

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com/
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

1 June 2012 

Dear Client 

This month we have selected  three (3) PROVENANCE bottlings. 

PROVENANCE Tasting Notes follow: 

PRV0788 AUCHROISK 10 YEARS 

Opens fresh and sweet on the nose carrying a floral style plus vanilla fudge and a malty quality. The palate opens with a sweet vanilla aspect and runs to spiced caramelised peaches. The finish is long and spicy and carries a soft chewed leather quality plus late honey. (J)

PRV0802 DAILUAINE 12 YEARS

Distinctly Sherried on the nose from its cask heritage – with mixed spice, clove studied orange, dark macerated fruit and chewy raisins all there before its late barley.  The palate is smooth and all too easy – with dark fruit spices, puff candy, and soft gristy qualities apparent – then the finish is cough drop and candy floss driven  (F) 

PRV0803 CRAIGELLACHIE 12 YEARS

Barley, citrus, aromatic floweriness and honey all appear on the nose plus late warm gingery type spices.  On the palate detect more sweet barley, with spiced and macerated dark fruits – crunched sugar – perhaps a little camphor?  …… and all are softly now replicated on its subtle finish.  (F) 

As our Winter Promotion proved very popular with our PROVENANCE Importers we will offer a similar but improved version for these potentially slower summer months.  This offer is now based on: 

BUY SEVEN (7) CASES FROM OUR PRICE LIST AND SELECT THE 8^TH CASE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE SELECTION YOU MAKE (WHILE STOCKS LAST AND EXCLUDING ANY/ALL ISLAY MALTS).  

Just as these are enjoyable Tasting Notes to write – so we hope they are of interest and validity to you when reviewing stock requirements.  We believe this month we have offered you a truly wide range of noses/palates and finishes which will intrigue you and your clientele.  We hope to be of service to you and look forward to hearing from you after review.  

Yours faithfully 

Fred Laing

Managing Director

www.douglaslaing.com