Loch Fyne Whiskies ‘New Limited Editions’

Lots of new limited editions added to our Latest Arrivals page including GlenDronach’s, Ardbeg’s and Rosebank – they won’t last long though…

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

TheWhiskyBarrel.com Best New Scotch 2011…

Glendronach 15 Year Old Cask #4681 56.3%

We’ve sampled several hundred whiskies during 2011 but one beast of a dram made us spill our porridge! Full bodied, rich, heavenly sherried, brimming with dried fruits and toffee with a long oily finish. Beat that Santa.

£58.99 (£49.16 ex VAT)

Late Winter Outturn Offerings

Teasing torture in Granny’s cupboard

Cask No. 30.67
Highlands, Speyside (Rothes)

On the nose, attractive sweetness (pancakes and maple syrup, honey, vanilla, Tia Maria) was balanced by polished wood, beeswax, bergamot, dried fruit, menthol and eucalyptus; a mixture that evoked one panellist’s ‘grandmother’s cupboard’. The palate carried caramel, butterscotch, coffee, oranges and mint humbugs – a sweet, tasty package shot through with various interesting elements, all tied up in oaky, tannic ribbons of tongue-drying, teasing torture. The reduced nose actually changed little – dark cherries, dry wood and tea were identified; but on the palate, the ‘torture’ faded to light coffee and quinine, while the sweeter side swelled deliciously. From Rothes’ second distillery.

Drinking tip: To share with special friends – give it time

Colour: Maple candy
Cask: Refill sherry butt
Age: 30 years
Date distilled: July 1980
Alcohol: 53.3%

$180

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Lamb chops, mint sauce and blueberries

Cask No. 44.49
Highlands, Speyside

One Panellist was tucking into lamb chops with boiled potatoes and mint sauce while the rest of us found cherry pie, white pepper, dried fruit and pot pourri on the nose. To taste we too found lamb chops with mint sauce but also crème brûlée, cola cubes and Twiglets with a hot finish reminiscent of English mustard. Water yielded sliced ham and Fruits of the Forest, vanilla, blueberry muffins, and Jammy Dodgers smothered in natural yogurt. We found more of the same on the palate but also milky coffee and a lasting minty freshness. The distillery name means ‘rocky hill’

Drinking tip: Reading a short story before Sunday lunch to get the gastric juices flowing

Colour: Old trombone
Cask: Refill sherry butt
Age: 11 years
Date distilled: August 1999
Alcohol: 58.7%

$95

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Lovehearts in a coal sack

Cask No. 53.153
Islay, North Shore

The nose was a fabulous mix of smoke, scorched heather, TCP and clean seaweed with marshmallows, vanilla and fresh laundry. The unreduced palate had soot, ash, lime and honey-coated burnt heather stems, with a treacly, woody aftertaste; some (but not all) found it a little harsh. The reduced nose was fresher, with lovehearts, refreshers, twizzle lollies and Jolly Ranchers as well as heather honey, smoke and empty coal sacks. The reduced palate had soapy, salty notes, butterscotch, burnt sticks and pine notes in the finish. This non-typical sample from Islay’s biggest distillery had panel members facing off in mild contretemps.

Drinking tip: After a few douce drams when you need something heftier

Colour: Moonlight and lemon juice gold
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 14 years
Date distilled: March 1997
Alcohol: 56.5%

$115

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Cask No. 77.25
Highlands, Northern Highlands

First impressions were of fresh pipe tobacco drenched in cider or damson vinegar, floral notes soon became prominent with rose, elderflower and geranium buoyed up by stewed apples & pears with lemon rind. To taste the Panel were licking caramelised chilli tobacco on new leather but softened by floral and woody undertones. A little water released aromas of red apples, liquorice, dried rose petals, lemon rinds and vanilla tobacco all in a leather pouch, while to taste it was sweet – coconut, vanilla; fruity – stewed apples with cinnamon, but still pleasantly floral. This is the only distillery on the Black Isle.

Drinking tip: For discussion

Colour: Buttery gold
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 23 years
Date distilled: August 1987
Alcohol: 56.8%

$145

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Please click on the LINK to read further and visit the SMWS of America at www.smwsa.com  for information on how to join.

Coming soon – the BenRiach Solstice 17YO

The BenRiach Solstice 17 Years Old – Second Edition
Another exciting Solstice expression will be available world-wide in January 2012. As with the first edition, this is a peated BenRiach which has been finished in Tawny Port casks.

This expression is a unique mix of fruit and peat which marry with extraordinary precision in classic proportions. Subtle notes of dry roasted nuts, dried raisins, and candied fruit, clean and very enticing with the dominant peat flavours lingering on the palate.

 
Coming Soon – the BenRiach Septendecim 17YO

The BenRiach Septendecim 17YO
The BenRiach Septendecim is the latest addition to our Peated Range and will be available worldwide January 2012. With the Septendecim we have continued the trend of using Latin names for our Peated Expressions. It has been matured only in ex-bourbon casks.

This expression is bold and intense with a peaty heart that is united with a peaty heart that is united with honey-infused raisins, roasted nuts and a luxurious leather impression. A real heavyweight, which will impart a lasting impression on the palate. 

Abbey Whisky – The Secret Casks

We are proud to announce the release of ‘The Secret Casks’ series, a trio of single malt Scotch whiskies, aged 30, 40 and 50 years old, matured at Speyside’s finest distilleries and bottled under the Abbey Whisky label.

These malts are available at a special introductory rate as part of the Abbey Whisky Winter Whisky Festival 2011 and prices will be frozen for the duration of the festival.

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Abbey Whisky 30 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

Wonderful deep sexy colour oozes from this 30 year old Speyside malt. Matured at a secret Speyside distillery and bottled for ‘The Secret Casks’ series by Abbey Whisky.

This 30 year old single malt whisky boasts deep sherry flavours combined with hints of toffee apple, butterscotch and baked apple crumble. Exudes all the character you would expect from a classic Speyside single malt aged and matured in Sherry casks.

Festival Price £89.10

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Abbey Whisky 40 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

Reminiscent of walnut & date pudding in both colour and flavour this 40 year old Speyside is a tremendous, silky single malt whisky with wonderful deep flavours of treacle syrup, muscovado sugar and hints of oak.

Whiskies of this age are extremely rare and one at this price, demonstrating such depth of flavour and balance offers incredible value for money. 

Festival Price £125.10

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Abbey Whisky 50 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

As the oldest and rarest in the series this 50 year old single malt whisky delivers everything you might expect from such a mature whisky. The nose gives deep oak flavours with smokey undertones. The taste is heavenly on the palate delivering smooth deep flavours of sweet honey, toffee, caramel with a hint of vanilla. The finish is delightful!

An absolute gem of a malt and as special as they come…

Festival Price £224.10

Abbey Whisky | Specialist supplier of rare, collectable and exclusive scotch malts. | Edinburgh, Lothian PO Box 23996, United Kingdom

Introducing Dimensions: the new core range from Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited.

The Dimensions collection is an outstanding range of single malt and single grain Scotch whiskies encompassing the full breadth of the Duncan Taylor portfolio. Containing whiskies aged up to 39 years, the Dimensions collection showcases the multi dimensional levels of character and flavour available from individual distilleries and casks.

The Dimensions collection consists of single cask, cask strength releases and exclusively numbered small batches at 46% abv. Neither chill filtered nor coloured, only the finest whiskies are selected for inclusion, ensuring that every bottle delivers the Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky ethos: Whisky Without Compromise.

The Dimensions collection is presented in new luxury packaging. Each bottle features full details of the whisky inside, including distillation and bottling dates, batch number and region of origin. Single cask releases are individually numbered and provide individual cask details.

The Dimensions collection will be available from December 2011 through all good whisky stockists. Initial releases include: Aberlour 1993, Bunnhabhain 1988, Cameronbridge 1978, Clynelish 1995, Glenlivet 1981, Glen Moray 1988, Glenrothes 1992, Royal Brackla 1997, Macduff 1997 and Mortlach 1989.

For further information on The Dimensions collection and the full range of Duncan Taylor whiskies, visit: WWW.DUNCANTAYLOR.COM

Email: info@duncantaylor.com or Telephone: + (0)44 1466 794055

Dimensions Cask Strength packaging

Dimensions 46% packaging

Dear Client

On this run up to Christmas we are offering you access to ten (10) new bottlings under the OLD MALT CASK label- four (4) new outstanding OLD & RAREs – two (2) CLAN DENNY Grains (the 48 year old Cambus being the sister cask to Jim Murray’s Best Grain 2012) together with one new bottling each of the DIRECTOR’S CUT and PREMIER BARREL.

Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK follow:

OMC2112 BOWMORE SHERRY 11 YEARS
Nose: Spiced and sweet – fruity and tarry – now salty and dry.
Palate: Sweetly spiced – tongue tingling – phenolic & lightly smoked.
Finish: Carries a camphor cough drop style + an oily & peaty length. (F)

OMC2116 HIGHLAND PARK SHERRY 15 YEARS
Nose: Sweetly (dark) fruited – lightly spiced – gently malted.
Palate: Carries toffee + vanilla + malt + honey and more spices.
Finish: Warmingly spiced, with cough drops and smoky trails (F)

OMC2108 CLYNELISH 16 YEARS
Nose: Fresh & clean – zesty & grassy – gristy & husky.
Palate: Lemon citric – barley sweet – runs to warming spices.
Finish: Cough drops + more barley gristiness & natural caramel. (F)

OMC2103 FETTERCAIRN 16 YEARS
Nose: Fresh, floral & perfumed with a fruit compote + ginger note.
Palate: Sweet – like barley sugar candies + a honey on toast character
Finish: Now slightly drier with orange peel & developing spices. (P)

OMC2114 MACALLAN BOURBON 18 YEARS
Nose: Big + darkly fruited+ vanilla, sweet barley + citrus.
Palate: Sweet with butterscotch, barley grist and crunched sugar.
Finish: Replicates the palate + camphor style cough drops. (F)

OMC2093 LITTLEMILL 20 YEARS
Nose: Spicy, clean and sweet with gentle barley tones.
Palate: Still, overtly and warmly spiced + a sweet, gristiness.
Finish: Lightly butterscotch in style + camphor character. (F)

OMC2110 MILTONDUFF 21 YEARS
Nose: Cedarwood in style + honey + apples & spicy zest.
Palate: Mouthcoats with gentle spices/grist/autumn fruit/camphor.
Finish: Softly warming cough drops + heather honey & burnt toast. (F)

OMC2109 GLEN GARIOCH 25 YEARS
Nose: Clean – fresh and sweet + toffee and autumnal fruits.
Palate: Softly honeyed + Scottish tablet&– malted barley.
Finish: Refined … . orange zesty – sweetly spiced and vanilla’d (F)

OMC2098 GLENLIVET 34 YEARS
Nose: Clean and honeyed with lemon, cedar, barley and late smoke.
Palate: “Dark” – warmly spiced + more honey, vanilla & crunched sugar.
Finish: Carries vanilla tablet + dry spices – still barley’d and warming. (F)

OMC2117 GLEN GRANT BRANDY CASK FINISH 36 YEARS
Nose: Opens sweetly – with toffee, malt and a spiced biscuits character
Palate: Still sweet, now spicy + dark fruit & a fine oaked quality
Finish: Replicates the palate with spiced fruit & a dry charred oak style (F & J)

Tasting Notes for OLD & RARE:

OAR0153 SPRINGBANK 20 YEARS
The nose opens with a spicy, sea-weedy character and runs to ripe sugared banana plus oranges and a vanilla/cedar wood style. The palate is initially light and subtle – dry (even desiccating) and spicy – then it develops to an attractive smoky and briny quality. Spicy characteristics continue on the long sweet/woody finish which carries a gun powder tea style – then runs to more wood, dark sea-weed, and soft leather. (F&J)

OAR0158 TAMDHU SHERRY 21 YEARS
Opens richly spiced on the nose carrying a dark fruit and attractively dry and nutty character. The palate is mouth coating, still spicy and develops to a Macedonia of macerated raisins and red fruit plus a later subtle smoked quality. The finish is long with a cherries (coated in dark chocolate) sweetness that runs to a drier, oak and cedar wood style. (J)

OAR0149 PORT ELLEN SHERRY 28 YEARS
Opens with a spicy, leather character and runs to nuts, dried fruit and a light ashy style. Initially the palate is round and mellow with flames/burnt orange peel before rich smoke develops with a burned polished wood style. The finish is LONG with ashes – soft tar – salty liquorice – sweet peat smoke going on and on… (J)

OAR0152 SPEYSIDE’S FINEST SHERRY 46 YEARS
If the colour has not given it away yet, the nose certainly does – distinctly sherried and richly spiced with dried dates, warm toffee & ginger. The palate carries a creamy butterscotch quality infused with a surprisingly fresh orange zesty trait. The finish is long, still spicy plus a sweet hazelnut marzipan character. (J)

CLAN DENNY GRAIN Tasting Notes:

DEN0080 INVERGORDON 45 YEARS
Fresh, fruity, vanilla’d, gristy and oaked – hinting at Autumnal apples, heavily spiced, all on the nose. Palatewise – it is massively sweetly spiced – still oaked – Bourbon in style, vanilla’d and mouthcoating. The finish is (Grain style) short but still sweetly spiced and warming. (F)

DEN0081 CAMBUS 48 YEARS
Look at the colour! Detect on the nose: Bourbon, vanilla and cereal based, spicy, zesty, sweetness. The palate is perfectly weighted – tinglingly spiced on the tongue with oak, honey and more of that citric zestiness – all leading to a lightly camphored, still vanilla’d and now a late buttery finish. (F)

Tasting Notes for DIRECTORS CUT:

DIR0006 PORT DUNDAS 30 YEARS

Nose: Sweetly spiced + a rich cinnamon & vanilla style
Palate: Sweet & warming + mouth coating vanilla & spices
Finish: Long + an attractive oak & milk chocolate character (J)

PREMIER BARREL Tasting Notes:

PBR0111 MORTLACH 14 YEARS
Mortlach …. a Masterful miscellany of majesterial and meritorious Malt mash devoid (de facto) of deficiency with its fruit, spice, mocha and Malt …… all made manifest multifariously and Munificently – nay, magnificently! (F)

CLAN DENNY GRAIN Tasting Notes:

DEN0080 INVERGORDON 45 YEARS
Fresh, fruity, vanilla’d, gristy and oaked – hinting at Autumnal apples, heavily spiced, all on the nose. Palatewise – it is massively sweetly spiced – still oaked – Bourbon in style, vanilla’d and mouthcoating. The finish is (Grain style) short but still sweetly spiced and warming. (F)

DEN0081 CAMBUS 48 YEARS
Look at the colour! Detect on the nose: Bourbon, vanilla and cereal based, spicy, zesty, sweetness. The palate is perfectly weighted – tinglingly spiced on the tongue with oak, honey and more of that citric zestiness – all leading to a lightly camphored, still vanilla’d and now a late buttery finish. (F)

We hope this selection running from young to old and from Hogsheads to Sherry casks will work for you and being the last monthly email to you for 2011 – we want to thank you for your much appreciated support through 2011. We never take that for granted – and now we want to be amongst the first to wish you a healthy (above all!) and wealthy 2012.

Yours faithfully

Fred H Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com

Early Winter Outturn Offerings

Unusual, intriguing and delightful

Cask No. 33.108
Islay, South Shore

The nose required some concentration – but we were rewarded with charcoal, light smoke, leather, Germolene and well-fired rolls – behind that, lemon zest, peeled twigs, nettles and subtle floral perfumes. The unreduced palate needed no concentration at all – ‘Where did that come from!’ someone exclaimed – ash, coal, burnt sticks, etc., but all balanced beautifully by delicious sweetness and warm spices. In reduction, the nose had lemon, lime and laundry freshness with delicate smoke and toffee, while the palate presented maple-cured bacon, sweet smoke, citric freshness and Victory V tingles in the aftertaste – a delightfully intriguing dram from the far Kildalton distillery.

Drinking tip: On the ferry to Islay

Colour: Riesling
Cask: Second-fill barrel
Age: 13 years
Date distilled: October 1997
Alcohol: 56.6%

$110

The Oriental Connection

Cask No. 24.118
Highlands, Speyside

The Panel thought this displayed typical sherry cask characteristics – crème brûlée, Marmite, treacle toffee, Christmas cake, dark chocolate-covered almonds, flan, walnuts, peanut brittle and venison & cranberry sausages. Big to taste; orange & ginger suet pudding, newly snuffed candles, matchboxes and a wee hint of cordite. Adding water brought out toffee, caramelised walnuts, dark fudge, port, prune juice, hazelnut oil, cloves and a touch of sulphur. Powdery and dry on the palate with white pepper, pencils and cherry cheesecake (with a ginger biscuit base) although five spice, dark soy, star anise and tamarind pulled us in an Oriental direction. From the Easter Elchies distillery.

Drinking tip: In celebration of Chinese New Year

Colour: Burnished bronze
Cask: First-fill ex sherry hogshead
Age: 20 years
Date distilled: December 1990
Alcohol: 50.7%

$145

Growing old disgracefully

Cask No. 41.49
Highlands, Speyside

This transported us to a stately home kitchen – baked ham, wood polish, camphor, truffle oil, ceps and pot pourri. Lively and spicy to taste with orange oil, leather, salty almonds, sulphur, smoked gammon smothered in plum sauce, leather, Marmite on toast, and toffee apples. Diluted we found Davidoff pipe tobacco, clean linen, wood smoke, waxy toffee apples, plums, vanilla, lavender & violets. To taste the Panel agreed it was beautiful – silky, spicy, lively and woody with cinnamon, fresh tobacco, leather, smoke, mussels (strangely), lavender, orange and more Marmite on toast. The first distillery to have a pagoda roof.

Drinking tip: With aromas such as these this one is to linger over

Colour: Hebridean sunset
Cask: Second-fill sherry butt
Age: 30 years
Date distilled: December 1980
Alcohol: 50.9%

$170

Complex cornucopia

Cask No. 64.27
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)

‘Helluva lot going on’ said the Moffat-man – and indeed, the nose was a cornucopia of aromas –vanilla slice, coconut, lemon curd, brandy snaps, butterscotch, hazelnut oil, marmalade, toffee, a puff of smoke and much, much more – very complex. The palate seemed interesting and mature but with youthful heat – flavours of vanilla fudge, shortbread, lemon, lime, morello cherry and spices. In reduction, the nose became fresher and more floral – hawthorn blossom, old-fashioned meadows, jasmine and chocolate. The reduced palate was sweetly perfumed with fruity toffee, citric zest and summery flower meadows. The distillery dates from 1971 and has connections with monks.

Drinking tip: Summer’s evening in a meadow

Colour: Pale ginger gold
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 9 years
Date distilled: April 2001
Alcohol: 61.9%

$90

Please click on the LINK to read further and visit the SMWS of America at www.smwsa.com  for information on how to join.

Dear Client

On this run up to Christmas we are offering you access to six (6) new bottlings from PROVENANCE.

Tasting Notes follow:

PRV0759 BUNNAHBHAIN SHERRY 9 YEARS
Massively spiced and distinctly Islay on the nose – carrying soft smoke, barley, porridge and an oily richness. On the palate detect a really sweet start, warming to heavy duty spices and tingling peppers plus toffee and a soft peated character. Its finish is softer than anticipated – subtle – with light camphor, sweet malt, and those same warming spices (F)

PRV0758 GLENROTHES 10 YEARS
Opens clean and fresh on the nose running to a sweet, macerated fruit character plus some toffee. The palate remains fresh and fruity (now wine gums in style) and runs to a sweet gristy style. The finish is sweetly spiced and carries a toffee’d apples quality. (J)

PRV0755 LAPHROAIG 11 YEARS
Distinctly Islay and sweetly phenolic immediately on the nose – running through a sugary style to peated malted barley. On the palate it is oily, peaty, sweet, ashy and tarry – all neatly replicated on the warmly spiced finish. (F)

PRV0751 AULTMORE 11 YEARS
The nose is fresh and fragrant – with its sweet and fruity character running to a barley sugar trait. Still fresh, the palate carries a gristy sweet style with an attractive, later citrus and pear drops quality. The finish is medium long with a barley and tangy lemon zest character. (J)

PRV0754 BALMENACH 11 YEARS
Opens light & fresh on the nose carrying a citrusy fragrant quality – then runs to a gristy & softly vanilla’d style. The palate opens fresh with a creamy sweet character then develops to a drier, spicier (cloves?) quality. The finish is short, still attractively sweet with an orange tang. (J)

PRV0723 GLEN GRANT 12 YEARS
Honeyed initially on the nose – it runs onto Scottish tablet/fudge and then to soft juicy barley. Palatewise it is both sweet (mixed spices with citrus) and dry (oak with ginger) – running to a finish lightly tobacco’d – still honeyed and attractively/warmly spiced. (F)

We hope this selection running through Hogsheads to Sherry casks will work for you – and being the last monthly email to you for 2011 – we want to thank you for your much appreciated support through 2011. We never take that for granted – and now we want to be amongst the first to wish you a healthy (above all!) and wealthy 2012.

Yours faithfully

Fred H Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com

WHISKYBLENDER.COM THE HOME OF YOUR OWN WHISKY!

November 2011 In an industry that has been around for at least 500 years it seems there is still room for innovation. For the first time, people will be able to construct their very own blend of Scotch whisky online thanks to a new website: www.whiskyblender.com

This new website is aimed at educating the consumer and creating a fun and accessible way for people to enjoy Scotland’s national drink, by allowing users to choose from a list of specially selected whiskies to create, label and purchase their own Bottle of Blended or Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. All of which will be done in Scotland.

The concept for the website was originally conceived back in 2009 by two young whisky drinkers from Glasgow. With the economy stalling and demand for whisky growing they decided that the idea was too good to put off for any longer and set about building the website.

“We’re both seasoned whisky drinkers and recognise how incredible the Master Blenders are in developing the iconic brands that exist today, we don’t expect people to be able to create whiskies like those guys, with WhiskyBlender it’s a bit of fun to create something that will taste good but is also unique to the user! ” Drew Nicolson, Creative Director.

The whiskies used for the blend are specially selected for their distinct flavour profiles. Each whisky has been tasted by whisky expert John Lamond (Keeper of the Quaich/Master of Malt) who has supplied the accompanying tasting notes to help guide the user to their own perfect blend. He also has contributed to the ‘whisky school’ an ongoing project of short educational videos that will become an integral part of the WhiskyBlender website.

It is hoped the website will be another layer in the global Scotch Whisky arsenal that will help promote and educate people around the world on the subject of Scotch Whisky . The final presentation will include the hand written Label and Premium Decanter including wooden topped stopper. Pricing is expected to be between £35 – £60 per bespoke bottle.

On sale from 25th November 2011, available for Xmas whilst stock lasts!

For more information please contact: info@whiskyblender.com

WhiskyBlender.com is a supporter of drinkaware.co.uk and encourages responsible enjoyment of alcohol.

www.whiskyblender.com

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