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Scotch Malt Whisky Society coronavirus (COVID-19) update

March 18th, 2020

There’s no doubt we’re living through troubled times, and we’re all trying to keep up-to-speed with a fast-moving and extremely challenging set of circumstances relating to Coronavirus (Covid-19). Here’s what we can tell you right now:

– Sadly, our Members’ tastings won’t be going ahead as planned. If the situation changes, we’ll let you know immediately. We will also soon inform you about our refund policy.

– Our online shop is open for business as normal and our shelves are well stocked. We don’t anticipate any issues right now with online orders and deliveries. Grab some comforting drams and share them in the comfort of your own home – you can print out your own Society home tasting kit here.

– Our Members Services team is ready to help with any questions or emails you may have. Bear in mind they may be busier than usual, so we ask for your patience while they deal with enquiries.

– We’re looking at how we can continue to bring members together in an online environment to share your love of Society whisky and good company. More on that to come.

– Expect to hear more in the days ahead – we don’t want to overload you with information but we’ll keep you up-to-date as the situation develops.

Look after each other, and if you’re stuck at home, at least make sure you’re well stocked with Society whisky to see you, your friends and families through.

Good health,

David Ridley – MD and Chief Member Champion
Tuesday, 17 March 2020

WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Call or email us if you have questions about the Outturn, events or your membership, the Member Services Team will be delighted to help you.

+44 131 555 2929
memberservices@smws.com

Posted in News @ 12:05 am by admin

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The Party Source “A note to our customers about the Coronavirus” – Whisky News

March 18th, 2020

A note to our customers about the Coronavirus

Over the past couple days, it has become evident that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is picking up across the country and in our tristate area. As always, our customers, as well as our staff, are our top priority here at The Party Source. Much like other retailers and businesses, we are here to notify you that we will continue to take pride in our well-run store in terms of cleanliness and safety.

We have instructed all staff members to clean their work areas before, during, and after each shift. We have upped our stock of cleaning products and they are readily available for all staff members as well as customers at our check out lanes. With this, we have decided to cancel all tasting events until further notice. Our tasting library will also be closed. We will not offer samples or fill outside containers from the Crowler Station. We will fill crowlers upon request while wearing protective gloves. Tasting products and sharing that experience with our customers is a crucial part of our business, but the health and safety of all is more important. We will continue to verbally educate our guests on any product they may be interested in. We are here for you.

This is a fluid situation and we are staying aware of all current information as it develops, and we will be constantly evaluating the situation on a daily basis. We will continue to adapt our response as the situation changes and dictates.

We thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Jon Stiles

President and CEO

The Party Source

Posted in News, X CoVid-19 @ 12:02 am by admin

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K&L Temporarily Closing All Retail Locations

March 18th, 2020

Special Announcement:
K&L Temporarily Closing All Retail Locations

K&L Friends and Customers,

We would like to announce the following steps that we are taking in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the community. The well-being of our staff, customers, and the community remain our top priority, and we will continue to adapt and adjust these measures due to the evolving circumstances.

Effective immediately, we have closed walk-in retail business at the stores until further notice. We plan to remain open online at www.KLWines.com and via phone at 800-247-5987
We continue to have a delivery option available in all the zip codes where we are lawfully allowed to ship.
Will call pickups are paused temporarily until further notice. We will hold will call orders on your behalf, but we would suggest you have them delivered to you through our online tools or postpone pick-up until a later date. K&L will not be handing off will call orders at the stores until we can determine an orderly method of distributing them while still acting in a way that considers the county, state and federal guidelines on social distancing.
Cleaning and safety measures are taking place at all the locations to help protect and support our staff members and the community.

Thanks for your understanding during this difficult period. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the virus. We will continue to keep you updated.

Sincerely,

The K&L Team

Posted in News, X CoVid-19 @ 12:01 am by admin

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The Whisky Shop “Our most popular Irish whiskies this St. Patrick’s Day” ☘️ – Irish Whiskey News

March 17th, 2020

Popular Irish Whiskies

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the proper way with our most popular Irish Whiskies!

FREE UK Delivery on orders over £99

Posted in News @ 12:03 am by admin

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Exploring Irish Whisky at The Whisky Exchange – Irish Whiskey News

March 17th, 2020

As one of two countries with a very real claim to the invention of whisk(e)y, Ireland is, perhaps, unfairly overlooked by many whisk(e)y drinkers.

After the Irish whiskey industry fell on hard times in the first half of the 20th century, only two Irish whiskey distilleries remained operational, carrying the torch for Irish whiskey and coaxing its smouldering embers into the roaring success it is today.

This success is visible through the ever-increasing number of great Irish whiskeys available, which are produced by active distilleries, nascent distilleries and bottlers in a variety of styles. Explore the vibrant world of Irish whiskey below, and take a moment to read a blog post from Sukhinder Singh, co-founder of The Whisky Exchange, to hear about his own love affair with Irish whiskey.

SHOP IRISH WHISKEY READ SUKHINDER”S BLOG POST

SINGLE MALT VS. SINGLE POT STILL

Two very distinct styles of whiskey – one has become commoditised all over the world, while the other has become the darling of Irish spirits. Both, however, have pedigree on the Emerald Isle.

SINGLE MALT

Single malt is made in the same way in Ireland as it is in Scotland, though to this day – for how much longer, we can’t be sure – Bushmills remains the only distillery with warehouses full of its own well-aged single malt Irish whiskey, and the distillery does a roaring trade with fledgling distilleries and indie bottlers for its mature stocks, which go back decades.

SHOP IRISH SINGLE MALT

SINGLE POT STILL

Single pot still whiskey, on the other hand, has become Irish whiskey’s call-sign. Made with a blend of malted and unmalted barley – although small amounts of wheat and oats, among others, are also permitted – the resulting spirit tends to be round and full-bodied, sweet, spicier than single malt, and notable for its often pronounced orchard- and tropical-fruit notes.

SHOP POT STILL WHISKEY

DISTILLERIES VS. BOTTLERS

With Irish whiskey’s burgeoning popularity, it’s no surprise that there’s a veritable flood of people looking to get in on the game – made all the more apparent by the the flocks of fresh bottles that have hit shelves in recent years.

Distilling and maturing spirit is a pursuit for the patient, though – as with Scotch whisky, Ireland requires a minimum of three years of aging in casks before the liquid can be called whiskey.

As such, some start-up distilleries might make gin, vodka and other spirits to cover costs while they work toward that threshold, but just as many others are keen to build their brand and bottle the good stuff while they wait.

To do this, young distilleries often bottle whiskey by buying casks from older, more established distilleries – a practise of which there is a long tradition in Ireland, where individual merchants have a history of buying casks from distilleries before blending and bottling their own, bespoke whiskies.

EXPLORE IRISH WHISKEY

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Rare & Collectable Whisky for any collector 🥃 at The Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News

March 16th, 2020

Rare & Collectable Whisky

Discover some of our rarest and sought after whiskies, available to order today.

Free UK delivery on all orders over £99 for a limited time

Springbank 1997 21 year old Authors Series – Oscar Wilde

A single cask release from the highly collectable authors series range, this Campbeltown single malt was distilled at Springbank in 1997 and matured in a single sherry cask for 21 years. Bottled at 52.9% abv, this edition has been paired with legendary author Oscar Wilde.

£625.00

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COVID-19 Update from Virginia Distillery Company

March 16th, 2020

COVID-19 Update from Virginia Distillery Company

Hello Friends, Family and Whisky Lovers,

As we’ve been tracking COVID-19, we’ve made the decision to encourage empty seats. The Visitors Center will be closed to the public for the foreseeable future based on guidance around COVID-19.

The closure will begin today, March 15th. This is for the safety of our team as well as our customers. We look forward to opening our doors again when things get back to normal.

Virginia ABC stores remain open at this time and carry most of our products. Check out our website for cocktail recipes you can make at home.

Most importantly, stay safe and healthy!

Cheers,

The Team at Virginia Distillery Company

Our mailing address is:
Virginia Distillery Company
299 Eades Ln
Lovingston, VA 22949

Posted in News, X CoVid-19 @ 12:00 am by admin

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Whisky Tour Sells Out in 59 Seconds! by Paul Mclean of MCLEANSCOTALND

March 15th, 2020

Unbelievable but true, we designed a tour for our friends over the North Sea; The Malt Whisky Association of Finland. Not long ago we were setting up this bespoke tour, with the main man Mika in Helsinki. We designed and booked it, everything ready, including the coach, ferries and all accommodations, Mika arranged distilleries. Mika then launched it online with a max 16 places available.

In 59 seconds he had sold 28 seats! He apologised and asked if that number could be permitted. We arranged more rooms and more ferry places, a larger coach, the tour went very well. With all major distilleries visited along the east coast, all the way to Orkney, it was a hectic schedule. My own favourites included; Highland Park and Scapa, Glendronach, Glen Moray and Wolfburn. There were many more, too many to list, but all were good. I have to say dramming on the cliffs of Orkney, with our pal brand ambassador Martin Markvardsen was a highlight (we had secretly worked this out before the tour came), after showing the group the distillery, he came on the coach for a day, took us to the cliffs and the HP peat bog, not only that, he brought some friends along; bottles of HP! Martin was a huge hit as you would imagine, he also came to our hotel and had drams with us. Kitted oot in his usual black shirt and kilt, a good man, he also supports Liverpool FC, like many a Dane! The tour was quite international, with our guests from Finland, martin fae Denmark, our pal Mark; driver, came over from Northern Ireland, myself half Scot half Irish (Republic), Liz who is a sassunach and the many nationalities at the distilleries, it was a worldwide whisky extravaganza!

This year we are welcoming them again – not 28, sorry no, too many really for a distillery tour group. We are staying with a manageable group of 10 whisky lovers, once again we will be raiding the Speyside region, as per usual, many bottles will find their way back to Finland. The lucky guests will enjoy an evening whisky dinner with Vic Cameron. With a Scottish and sassunach guiding team (Liz and Paul) we should be able to keep these Fins in line – hopefully. We will be finding our way to Strathisla, Royal Lochnagar, GlenDronach, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan, Glen Moray and Glenfarclas Distilleries, Scottish history at Culloden visitor centre. Clava Cairns standing stones and cairns and the glorious ruins of Duffus Castle. For good measure a visit to Gordon & MacPhail and of course, as we are famous for; many drams on the road!

We have had many tours accepted by return email, but 59 seconds holds the record to date. It’s a hectic year for whisky tours with MCLEANSCOTLAND, we have all six drivers busy, being away to the west coast mainland and islands, Islay, the Outer Hebrides, Speyside and the Highlands. We cannee complain, but I do like a day off now and again! PAUL MCLEAN

Posted in Events, News @ 12:01 am by admin

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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE: A MESSAGE FROM THE SMWS

March 15th, 2020

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE: A MESSAGE FROM THE SMWS

A message to all our members regarding the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)

To all our members,

As the situation regarding the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to develop, we wanted to let you know that we’re monitoring developments closely and doing everything we can to follow the latest advice from the UK Government and relevant Public Health bodies both north and south of the border.

For the time being, our four Members’ Rooms across Edinburgh, London and Glasgow remain open as normal and we have no plans to cancel any upcoming events or tastings across the country. Come in any time to enjoy a reassuring whisky, or pick up a bottle to take home.

We are also:

Providing additional hand sanitiser and soap at all Members’ Rooms
Educating our bar staff and ambassadors on prevention measures
Emphasising frequent and proper hand washing
Cleaning high contact points in our Members’ Rooms more frequently

We look forward to continuing to share our drams with members in a clean and safe environment, and ask that you also follow the guidelines for frequent and thorough hand washing and the immediate and safe disposal of used tissues.

We’ll continue to closely monitor all available information and keep you up to date, but in the meantime we look forward to seeing you soon.

Best wishes and thank you for your continued support,

The SMWS

March 13, 2020

Posted in News, X CoVid-19 @ 12:00 am by admin

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