Ralfy climbs a bit of Scotland’s highest mountain with Ralfy Review 715 – Ben Nevis 10yo @ 46%vol

Whisky Stories – Your Turn

Last month, I wrote a blog post about my most memorable whisky story – my first trip to Islay. It prompted several of you to share your own whisky stories, and here’s our favourite. Thank you to all of you who took the time to reply, and please keep sending your whisky stories to us – we’ll be publishing more of our favourites over the coming months.

by Edward
I was backpacking in Asia with a good mate of mine. One night while walking the streets of Saigon, Vietnam, we decided to make it our mission to find a fancy single malt. We dragged ourselves through 38°C heat at 80% humidity, in and out of bars in the hope we might discover a hidden gem.

After the seventh bar we were desperate and out of ideas – maybe our decision not to bring smartphones wasn’t so smart after all. While traipsing down a side street, an old Vietnamese guy lounging on his scooter yelled ‘What you want? I’ll get you anything.’

He followed us, asking the same question, calling to us in a well-pronounced, well-rehearsed fashion. Eventually I stopped and said, ‘OK! Whisky. Single malt.’

The man (Mikey) was convinced that he could help us if we bought him one Coke in a bar he swore sold whisky. Needless to say, the bar he took us to was not exactly street legal. It was too dark for me to accurately describe what was happening in there, but Coke was three dollars and everyone was very…friendly, shall we say?

So we joined Mikey in having Vietnam’s most expensive soft drink. He told us how he’d been a translator for the US during the Vietnam War, and after the Americans famously fled Saigon, Mikey was imprisoned for helping the enemy.

But the whisky. We still hadn’t found the whisky. So after making a polite excuse we left, and we were getting desperate as the night drew on.

Now lost, we found ourselves outside a door that seemed to be a bar. ‘Let’s just go in here, gather our thoughts and work out what we are going to do,’ I said. After a long flight of stairs we found ourselves in a terrace bar looking over the city. In the floor was a fish tank, and soft seating surrounded us.

There, to our amazement, on the menu was Laphroaig 10 Year Old. A double was £3, the same price as a Coke with Mikey. We ordered two doubles. A few minutes later the waiter appeared awkwardly holding the bottle. He looked at us and said, ‘I’m terribly sorry, I only have this. No one wants to drink it so I will charge you the same.’

He held up the bottle which read Laphroaig…18 Year Old!

‘Is that OK?’ he asked.

I replied: ‘I think we’ll manage.’

Thanks very much to Edward. If you have a whisky story you’d like to share, please send it to us.

Phil Dwyer

So, Macallan, somewhat of an elephant in the room these days. The Double Cask is a combination of European Oak & American Oak seasoned sherry casks, i’m not sure how long “seasoned” details in length of time in sherry but it’s a fairly common trait in whisky maturation these days.

I’m a fan of sherry cask whiskies and classic Macallans’ like the 12YO and the No. 2 Edition are key examples of how good Macallan can be and for me, personally, this whisky is a very two dimensional and really lacks depth, especially for the price tag of £70. If you like it, then you like it, everyone is different but this is a product that won’t grace my whisky shelf.

https://youtu.be/w1mSIiYk9q0

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday ~ Facebook.com/whiskytube ~ Twitter.com/whiskytube ~ Youtube.com/whiskywednesday

A dram for the decade

The award-winning whisky producer Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd have announced an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of Single Malt history on the Isle of Arran. With the construction of the whisky-makers second site on the south of the island at Lagg well underway, master distiller James MacTaggart is releasing for purchase 700 casks from the first production to be filled at the new distillery.

These bourbon casks will contain approximately 280* 70cl bottles-worth of a new, heavily-peated (50ppm) Single Malt that will be the style of whisky produced at the Lagg Distillery.

Each of casks, priced at £6,000, will remain at the distillery for a minimum of ten years of maturation under the careful eye of the Lagg Distillery team. The casks owners will then have the opportunity to bottle the spirit, complete with a limited-edition Lagg Cask society label, or pay an annual fee to continue the maturation process until the desired age is attained**. It is expected that the casks will be laid down in late 2018. No further casks will be made available for sale to the public during the first ten years of production at Lagg.

Every cask owner will also become a member of the exclusive Lagg Cask Society. Membership guarantees a bottle from the very first cask to be filled at Lagg which is reserved exclusively for the Society. In addition each member will have their name displayed on the Lagg ‘Wall of Fame’ and receive an invite to the Lagg Cask Society Members Day for a first-look of the distillery and visitor centre before its official opening in spring 2019.

Additional benefits include a free stay at the historic Lagg Hotel, a 12 month Arran golf pass, complimentary tours of Lagg and 10% off all purchases in the visitor centre for 10 years.

James MacTaggart said: “We have incredibly exciting plans for the Lagg Distillery and the Lagg Cask Society offers people the chance to be part of the journey from the very beginning.”

“To own one of the first casks from a Distillery is a rare opportunity indeed and with my years of experience in the industry I firmly believe the Lagg Single Malt will mature into something truly magical”.

Euan Mitchell, managing director of the Isle of Arran Distillery, added: “We are proud to be bringing whisky production back to the south end of Arran. The area was a hotbed of distilling, both legal and illicit, during the early nineteenth century and the Arran ‘waters’ were in great demand on the mainland”.

“The Lagg Cask Society is the next chapter of the story of malt whisky on Arran. Their casks will be the first to be filled on the south of the island in over 170 years – a continuation of a long and proud heritage of whisky making on Arran.

“In releasing these casks, we are inviting people to join the Arran family and lay down an exclusive Lagg dram that they can call their own for a fee in line with prices currently being paid for individual bottles of rare Single Malt. Bottles from the Lagg Cask Society barrels will provide unique opportunities for gifts and investment, the ideal present to lay down for future generations, as well as the simple enjoyment of sampling the finest of spirits”.

Casks will be available directly from the distillery and online from www.laggwhisky.com

The new distillery site and visitor centre at Lagg is expected to open in 2019. Total visitor numbers to both distillery sites are expected to exceed 200,000 by 2020 once the new visitor centre in Lagg has been opened with an estimated combined turnover of over £2million.

Notes:

* On an approximate basis, you could assume that a barrel (200 bulk litres) bottled at 46% abv, in 70cl bottles, after 10 years would yield 280 bottles.

**Every year after the initial ten that the cask remains at the distillery, there will be a small annual storage and insurance fee (currently £40 per year) as the whisky continues to mature. The cost of fees and bottling after the standard ten year maturation period at present is in the region of £6,000 – though taxes, customs and the market could cause this to vary.

For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com

Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007)

Scottish Field Visitor Experience of the Year 2014 & 2015

Drinks Business Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism (2017)

Best Brewery/Distillery Tour – Scottish Outdoor Leisure Awards 2017

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year-old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.

Welcome to the latest quarterly newsletter.  We hope you had a cheery holiday season, spending time with loved ones and catching up with friends and family and enjoyed a dram or two. Springbank Distillers was closed for two weeks so we are happy to report that our Production and Sales teams are well rested and ready to tackle what will be one of the busiest years in our company’s history.

Distillery News

As you will know from our previous Newsletter, scheduled renovations and improvements continue at the distillery and work has now begun to transform the old staff canteen into a distillery shop which we hope to have up and running for the summer season.

Our four new production staff have now completed their training giving us the required manpower to malt, mash and distill simultaneously throughout the year.  This clearly increases our production capacity but will also enhance our visitors’ experience as they will see all aspects of production working during a single visit.  We reiterate that we are not using mass production techniques and that Springbank will continue to be produced in its unique way, including 100% floor malting.

In other news, Assistant Manager Robert Scally (aka Pop) has taken on a new role as Bottling Hall Manager.  Pop spent a number of weeks in the Bottling Hall last year, assisting with the training and work instructions of all staff members and brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Staff Profiles

A new feature has been introduced to the Springbank Website. We are producing staff profiles, in the form of short interviews, on the website and our social media platforms. Staff members share their experiences of working for Springbank and give you all an insight into what it’s really like to be involved in making the whisky that we all know and love. We shall be starting with employees who have been with the company for a long time, focusing on how Springbank and Glengyle have evolved over time and how that has effected everyone at the distillery.

As Society members, you will get access to these profiles first as they will be posted on the Society section of the Springbank Website before they appear anywhere else – so keep an eye out!

And if you can think of any questions you really want answered, then let us know and we shall ask them.

February Releases

We recently launched our three February releases in the UK;

Springbank 12yo cask strength 56.3%

Springbank 25yo 46%

Longrow Red 11yo Cabernet Franc 55.9%

As Society Members you were given advanced warning that these were being made available so we hope this gave you every opportunity to secure the bottles you desired.  We again highlight that we do not control how shops sell their stock, or if they take pre-orders etc.  The Cadenhead shops are out-with our control so if you have any enquires or comments about what stock individual shops have please contact them directly.  Remember to look at the ‘Where to buy’ section of our website to find your local UK stockist. http://www.springbank.scot/distributors/

Sales Team Events    

February 

26th Feb    Australia Tasting Tour. Ranald will be representing Springbank down under in -2nd Mar    partnership with Cadenhead’s who will also be touring.   David will also be in the country on these dates for a Kilkerran tasting tour.

28th Feb    Jutland Whisky Fair and tastings, Denmark

4th March    www.whiskymessen.dk/?page_id=296   (Ronan)

March

 2-4th         DramFest, Christchurch, New Zealand. www.dramfest.co.nz (Ranald & David)

5-12th        New Zealand tasting tour. (Joint Springbank, Kilkerran & Cadenhead tour  with David, Ranald and Cameron McGeachy ) Tastings in Auckland and  Wellington.

10th        Fife Whisky Festival      www.fifewhiskyfestival.com (Grant)

15th         Arkwrights Whisky Wines and Home Brew tasting event, Swindon (Grant)

16-17th    Midlands Whisky Festival  www.whiskyfest.co.uk (Grant)

16-23rd    Trondheim Whisky Fair and Norwegian tasting tour  www.trondheimwf.no   (Ronan)

24th        Dundee Whisky Social – Kilkerran only (Grant)

April 

6-14th        Gothenburg Whisky Fair and tasting tour of Sweden www.olochwhiskymassa.se (Ronan)

14th        Warsaw Whisky & Friends, Poland www.whiskyandfriends.pl (Melanie)

21-22nd    Limburg Whisky Fair, Germany www.festival.whiskyfair.com (Ranald)

28th        Bristol Whisky Lounge, www.thewhiskylounge.com/ (Grant)

May

5-6th        Kieler Whiskymesse www.mein-schlemmerfreund.de.  (Ranald & Melanie)

Society Bottling 

We are pleased to announce that we will follow up the previous Society bottlings of Springbank and Longrow Sauternes with a Hazelburn edition which will complete the Sauternes series.  This will be released in April 2018 with further details following closer to the release date.  However, we can say now that given the estimated outturn, we will have to restrict bottles to one per member.

Campbeltown Malts Festival   20th-23rd May 2018

Finally, tickets for the Springbank and Cadenhead/Glengyle Open Days went on sale on Thursday 15th February.  Most tastings have now sold out but there are still tickets available for the Longrow & Hazelburn masterclass at 11.30am on Thursday 24th and the Kilkerran masterclass at 11.30am on Friday 25th. These can be purchased on Eventbrite – http://bit.ly/2ofceaP

Don’t forget there are also tastings available to book on the day as well as well as the usual delights of the warehouse bar, Cadenhead lucky dip bar, free tours and local producers showcasing their products.

You will receive more information on the Malts Festival as the event draws closer but we will highlight at this early stage that we plan to supply a greater volume of Open Day bottles this year to ensure everyone has the opportunity to purchase one.  This should mean they are available throughout their respective days, not selling out in the first hour or so.  We will also make the bottles available to purchase from 10.30am.  The purpose of this is to encourage people to enjoy the atmosphere of the day and not worry about queuing  for bottles, and for those that want to queue, they can get this out the way before the Open Day begins at 11am!

That’s all from us for now but stay tuned for updates on the Malts Festival and the next Society release.

Slainte!

Springbank Society 

To join the Springbank Society please contact them at Springbank Society  society@springbank.scot

Michter’s US*1- Barrel Strength Straight Rye

A single barrel, cask strength release of the excellent Michter’s US*1 Straight Rye whiskey. For this limited edition release, the Rye distillate is filled to cask at a lower strength of 103 proof, a method said to be more expensive. But the results are worth it, with a richer, smoother, more full-bodied whiskey.

£94.80

The Last of a Classic

The last few bottles of the original Loch Fyne Liqueur

The Loch Fyne Liqueur Decanter Bottle

Ready for a trip down memory lane? Comprised of whisky matured for at least 12 years and housed in a striking glass decanter, the original Loch Fyne Liqueur was a premium dram in every respect! No longer produced, only a handful of these wonderfully presented bottles remain. So – whether you’re keen to try The Loch Fyne Liqueur in all its glorious forms, or are simply a devotee of the old style – we recommend stocking up, before it’s completely gone.

£38 Buy Now
Limited stock now available to order

Canadian Whisky News

Read All About It in the New York Times

As sales of Canadian whisky in the vast American market continue to grow, America’s most respected and widely read newspaper is taking notice.

In an in-depth feature published in both the on-line and print editions, the New York Times, Clay Risen notes a 112 percent leap in the high-end premium category, telling America that Canadian whisky is in resurgence.

Chronicling the glory days after Prohibition and the slow decline of more recent years, the article notes that today, drinkers in the know are taking Canadian whisky seriously. Traditional distillers and new microdistilleries alike contribute to this resurgence.

Credit, in part, goes to Alberta-made ryes that both drive and feed the Rye Renaissance in the U.S. Moreover, these massive 100% ryes are finding their way into top bartenders high-end cocktails.

A Canadian whisky – Crown Royal – is the second-best-selling whisky in the United States, notes Risen. Only Jack Daniel’s manages to sell more.

To read the full story click here

You Could Be A Forty Creek Hero

Forty Creek Whisky is offering four whisky lovers from across Canada the chance for an all-expenses-paid visit to the distillery where they will help select this year’s Limited Release.

Canadian whisky fans need only visit Forty Creek’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FortyCreekWhisky) and comment on why Forty Creek is their whisky of choice. Four fans from various parts of Canada (excluding Quebec) will be chosen at random and invited to the Forty Creek distillery to sample a range of new blends, then vote on which will be the 2018 Limited Edition. The contest closes March 4, 2018.

“We want to give Canadians from coast-to- coast an opportunity to represent their respective regions and select, what will ultimately be the first special release chosen by Forty Creek’s own fans.” says John Andersen, Senior Brand Manager.

Here is your chance to make Canadian whisky history. The winning blend will be available for reservation prior to Forty Creek’s annual Whisky Weekend, held each September at the Grimsby, Ontario distillery.

Winners

Canadian Whisky Awards

Whisky of the Year – JP Wiser’s 35

Distillery of the Year –  Hiram Walker & Sons

The Verdict is in: 

These are the Best Whiskies for 2018 

Results of the 8th Annual Canadian Whisky Awards show great strength and broad diversity in the new crop of Canadian whiskies.

Whisky of the Year – Wiser’s 35

Distillery of the Year – Hiram Walker & Sons

Microdistillery of the year – Two Brewers

Award of Excellence Innovation – Lohin McKinnon Barley & Rye lightly peated

Award of Excellence Line Extension – Gibson’s Finest Bold

Award of Excellence – Best New Whisky – Forty Creek Heritage

Connoisseur Whisky of the Year – Domestic – Wiser’s 35

Connoisseur Whisky of the Year – Multi-market – Caribou Crossing

Sippin’ Whisky of the Year – Domestic – Collingwood Town Collection Double Barreled

Sippin’ Whisky of the Year – Export – Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel

Sippin’ Whisky of the Year – Multi-market – Masterson’s 10 yo

Value Whisky – Domestic – Highwood Rye

Value Whisky – Multi-market – Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

Value Whisky – Export – Canadian Mist

Flavoured Domestic – Ceili’s Irish Cream / Wiser’s Vanilla

Flavoured Multi-market – Crown Royal Vanilla

Lifetime Achievement – Vicky Miller – Black Velvet Distillery

Lifetime Achievement – Rick Murphy – Alberta Distillers Limited

Lifetime Achievement – Jim Stanski – Hiram Walker Distillery

Gold Medals

Canadian Club 40 year old

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel

Ceili’s Irish Cream

Collingwood Town Collection Double Barreled

Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

Crown Royal Vanilla

Crown Royal XO

Forty Creek Cream

Gooderham & Worts Four Grain

Last Mountain Cask Strength

Lot No 40

Lot No 40 Cask Strength 12 year old

Masterson’s 10 year old Rye

Two Brewers Peated single malt

Wiser’s 150th Commemerative

Wiser’s 35 year old

Wiser’s Dissertation

Wiser’s Last Barrels

Wiser’s Triple Barrel Rye

Wiser’s Union 52

Wiser’s Vanilla

And speaking of whisky books…

Early reports from bookstores and on-line sellers tell us sales are brisk for the newly updated Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Expert.

The Macallan 40 Years Old – 2017 Release is a rare single malt and testament to the exceptional sherry oak casks that define the entire Sherry Oak range.

Matured for a minimum of 40 years in an intriguing combination of three different types of sherry-seasoned casks, this is a single malt with a distinctive style and intense character; defined by dried fruits, ginger, wood spice and cinnamon with a natural deep copper colour.

This release will be limited to 465 bottles worldwide and we’re pleased to offer you the opportunity to secure a chance to purchase one of a limited number of bottles being made available through a ballot from The Macallan Online Shop.

If you are interested in owning this highly limited release, please follow the link below before 23:59 UK time on 27th February 2018 and complete the ballot entry information and instructions. We will send you a confirmation email with additional details that confirms your entry into the ballot.

ENTER THE BALLOT                     EXPLORE THE RELEASE

The 40 Years Old – 2017 Release will be sold in the ballot at £6,250 (70cl) and includes delivery but the final price will be subject to local taxes and duties as they apply to the shipping destination.

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Delivery of whisky products from The Macallan Online Shop is currently available to 27 countries.
• The RRP is £6,250 (70cl) but the final price will be subject to local taxes and duties as they apply to the shipping destination
• Entries to the ballot will close at 23:59 UK time on 27th February 2018.
• All required fields must be completed and submitted to confirm your entry. All eligible entries will receive a confirmation email.
• By entering the ballot you are not making a purchase and there is no obligation to buy, even if you are successful in the ballot.
• Due to the scarcity of this release, all entries and any resulting purchases are strictly limited to one per person only.
• We aim to notify all successful entrants by email no later than the end of March 2018.
• Full terms and conditions for the ballot can be found here. If you have any questions please see the FAQs.

An Islay Masterclass

It’s not quite time for the Islay Festival, but you can take a masterclass in how the signature Islay peat and smoke notes are crafted with the latest release in Bruichladdich’s Octomore Masterclass range available to pre-order now.

Only available while stocks last
International Shipping

Octomore Masterclass_08.4 Virgin Oak

The fourth Masterclass release is an 8 year old single malt distilled in 2009 using barley peated to 170ppm. First-fill virgin oak casks held 20% of the spirit for the full maturation, with the remaining 80% in first-fill American ex-bourbon casks before being transferred to the virgin oak casks that had been used to mature Octomore 07.4. Limited to just 12,000 bottles worldwide.

The nose has banana bread, honeyed oak and a peppery phenolic note before toffee, vanilla and cinnamon. The palate is rich and smooth; leather, toasted oak and honey combining with praline, coconut and a delicate smoke. The finish has fading notes of cloves and aniseed with the iconic Octomore smoke lingering on.

£150 Pre-Order Now
Orders will be dispatched w/c 26th February

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