Burns Night and drams

Liz and Paul headed north on the Wednesday (after a meeting in Perth with VisitScotland) up the A9 route, past Inverness and on to the Black Isle. First stop Glenmorangie Distillery, just to say hello, shop and shoot a wee video.     We were bowled over by  the enthusiasm that wee man  Aiden has for the distillery. Couldnee stop him talking, good to see youngsters in the business. Did we buy anything? Is the Pope a Catholic? From here a few miles up/down the road to Balblair Distillery. Arriving near closing time, we interrupted Distillery Manager, John MacDonald who very kindly took us along to the shop for a dram. It was John who gave Paul wee drams to take with him, driving a recent distillery tour for Ingvar Ronde.  John, has been in the whisky industry since leaving college. His first job at a distillery not too far from Balblair (could we have been there?) supposed to be a year out from studying  but ended up staying for 17 years!  Despite spending 17 years there, when the position of Balblair Distillery Manager came up in 2006, well, as they say “that’s history”. Tired now the castle called …staying the night in a Baronial Castle near Dalmore, food and drink followed to round off a good day.

Thursday just happened to be Burns day – so a distillery visit was called for. A wee drive found them in Dingwall, met by Michael (in an electric car) from Glen Wyvis Distillery, who then drove them to his distillery – this is another story, coming soon. It happened to be the very first day the distillery started to produce spirit – Burns day!  Good timing. Almost two hours later, on the road again, stopping at Dalmore Distillery, more “hello’s”, hands in pockets so as not to buy any bottles, they reluctantly returned to the car and headed north to Dornoch. Parking up and a donder into the castle hotel, meeting up as arranged with Phil Thompson, who then took the pair to the wee distillery, it is wee, but so interesting. A good chat and a bottle of gin later, they strolled along to the Carnegie Whisky Cellar to meet Michael Hanratty – an old friend. By now it was almost closing time for the shop, from here commenced a “lock in”. Liz and Paul were held prisoner for almost 3 hours, being force fed as many as ten whiskies, under much duress they agreed to sample these precious drams … er, departing with a bottle of Auchroisk 28 yo cask strength single malt, 56.8% distilled back in 1974. It’s hard being Liz and Paul.  Back at the pub (Eagle, Dornoch) drinks of a different kind appeared, Eric forced a gin on Liz, a whisky on Paul, before white wine and food completed the Burns Night!  Oh, and a couple of drams upstairs as a bedtime treat.

Friday, started slowly. Actually before leaving Dornoch, a session in the antique shop (aye, purchases!) then a drive down to the Storehouse for late breaky. On the road, just south of Inverness, another antique stop, you guessed it. Back in Perth, transfer bits and bobs from the truck to Lizs’ car, she back to Carnoustie, Paul to the pub. Rabbie Burns has a lot to answer for!

Paul of mcleanscotland.com and whiskytours.scot

Your personality in a whisky!

Indulge your loved one this Valentine’s Day with The Lover’s Blend. We have uniquely matched the profiles of a whisky with human characteristics; instead of peat think rogue or rule breaker.

Like crafting a love potion, you will take time to make sure every characteristic of your partner is captured on your ingredient list before blending those quantities together into your very own lovers blend to take home and enjoy together, in theory it should be your perfect whisky!

Package includes:

– Tour Scotland’s oldest distillery
– Visit our warehouse to see our Whisky sleep

– See the world’s largest bottle of Whisky

– Learn how to match Whisky with personalities

– Take home your very own blend to keep or enjoy!

£120.00 per couple

To Book Tel: 01764 656565 for further details please email enquiries@thefamousgrouseexperience.com

START SHOPPING

The Famous Grouse Experience. Glenturret Distillery,

The Hosh, Crieff, Perthshire PH7 4HA

1995 Bowmore 22 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Sovereign” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

SKU #1330633 $139.99

We’re going back to the Bowmore well again this winter, albeit with an older cask (22 years instead of 20) for an ever better price ($139 instead of $149)!! Aged in a refill hogshead cask and bottled at full proof with no chill-filtration, this is yet another must-have Islay malt for peat fans who like a bit of richness with their smoke. What stands out immediately about this 22 year old Bowmore is the creamy texture and the sweetness of the malt. The initial palate sensations are sweet vanilla and soft, supple oak, before the phenolics kick in and couple with the salty brine, emblematic of a whisky clearly aged by the sea. The finish brings forward notes of ash and campfire smoke, smoldering embers intermixing with what’s left of the sweet malt character. With supplies of rare Islay casks dwindling on the wholesale market currently, we’re thrilled with the pricing and we hope you are as well. This Bowmore 22 year is representative of everything our direct purchasing program strives to achieve.

New Whisky Blog Series – Indy Scotch Whisky

Independent Scotch Whisky. The whisky industry’s worst kept, non secret. Big brands and distillery marketing dominate the whisky world. But one of the best and most interesting aspects of the Scotch Whisky industry, are the wonderful array of independent bottlers.

Here at The Whisky Barrel we are passionate in supporting the Indy Whisky scene. For more than 10 years we have been stocking and selling the wares of Scotland’s most renowned and established bottling companies, such as Gordon & MacPhail ​, Hunter Laing​, Signatory Vintage, Wemyss Malts, Morrison and MacKay, Cadenheads and more​. Even more recently, we have started working with new lines such as North Star Spirits, Creative Whisky Co​. Indy Scotch Whisky can offer a journey of discovery to enjoy a range of whisky characters or flavour profiles that offer something entirely different.  So, in this series of blogs we will take a closer look at gems that are Indy Scotch Whisky (#IndyScotchWhisky).

Independent Bottlings (IB) of whisky offers the enthusiast something far beyond the official distillery releases. Most notably, variety and a very keen price. With multiple new releases through the year, IB whiskies are often bottled from distilleries whose whisky rarely sees single malt status. They offer single casks, rare releases and experimental casks. But most of all they are some of Scotland’s finest scotch whisky.

The indy bottlers are free from the limitations and drive for absolute consistency of their core products that the distilleries need to adhere to. They give the customer access to a wider range of whiskies, styles and characters. And best of all, they tend to be excellent value. The warehouses of some of the indy bottlers are simply an Alladin’s Whisky Cave. Big hitters such Macallan, Highland Park, Springbank and Blair Athol. Lost Distilleries such as Littlemill, Imperial, Rosebank and Dumbarton. And unsung heroes such as Craigellachie, Clynelish and Ben Nevis.

But don’t be fooled by any misinformation that Indy Whisky is just bad casks cast aside by the distilleries. The wood policy of the likes of Morrison and MacKay is second to none. Gordon & MacPhail source new make spirit and nurture it themselves. Signatory Vintage run their operations alongside the fantastic Edradour Distillery. Each Indy bottler has its own exceptional pedigree in the whisky industry and serve only to release the best scotch whisky they can. We love them all.

Indy Scotch Whisky – Part 1.1 – Morrison & MacKay

This year we are taking a closer look at some of our Indy whisky bottlers. We’ll be starting with the wonderful Morrison & MacKay Ltd​ and their new venture with Aberargie Distillery. Keep an eye out next week for Parts 1.1 and 1.2 when we delve into the warehouses and distillery.

MASTERCLASSES ON SALE NOW
16-17 MARCH 2018
– Stourbridge Town Hall –

This Spring we’re welcomed by Dalmore’s Scott Grierson and all-round Diageo legend Colinn Dunn for two exceptional masterclasses.

BOOK NOW

TALISKER FORAYS INTO THE SKYE
WITH COLINN DUNN

Saddle up for a coastal journey through the Isle of Skye with legend Colinn Dunn and a fine flight of single malt whiskies from the much-loved Talisker Distillery.

Tasting lineup

Talisker 10 Year Old

Talisker Port Ruighe

Talisker 57° North

Talisker 18 Year Old

Talisker 25 Year Old

Talisker 35 Year Old

DALMORE SENSATIONAL DELIGHTS

WITH SCOTT GRIERSON

Experience the show in full with all the benefits our Devotee package offers and secure a spot in this once-in-a-lifetime masterclass. We’ll be sampling from the following lineup worth over a whopping £5,000:

Dalmore 25 Year Old

Dalmore 20 Year Old 1996 Vintage

Dalmore Quintessence

Dalmore Constellation Series Cask

Dalmore Star Sample

These masterclasses are included with Premium and Devotee ticket packages

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Whisky Stories – my first trip to Islay

All whisky drinkers have a story to share, whether it’s a visit to their favourite distillery or perhaps the day they opened a life-changing dram. We’d love to hear your whisky stories and we’ll be publishing our favourites – tell us all about them here. To set the scene, Stuart recalls his first trip to Islay…

Ardbeg is one of a trio of whisky producers on Islay’s south coast, along with Laphroaig and Lagavulin, collectively known as the Kildalton Distilleries

‘Stu, Ardbeg is launching a new whisky. Fancy going up to Islay for a couple of days?’ I remember the day very clearly, in the spring of 2006, when my editor asked me the most rhetorical of questions.

I don’t think I’d ever been so excited to go on a trip. I was going to Islay – Islay! – that magical island where they make whisky like no other, to mark the release of Ardbeg Still Young.

the peat generation

Given that I’d really got into peaty whisky just a year or two before, you’ll understand my excitement. I was a keen whisky drinker, but like many people, I didn’t take to peaty whisky straightaway. The first one I tried was Laphroaig 10 Year Old; its no-holds-barred medicinal hit took me by surprise.

But I persevered, and I was struck by how those layers of peat and smoke could add so much to a whisky. Peaty whisky quickly became my favourite style, and the marked contrast between Islay distilleries was a revelation, too: Ardbeg 10yo and its smoked-bacon character; the clean and citrusy Caol Ila 12yo fattened up with a beautiful oiliness; and Lagavulin 16yo, a glorious combination of fruit and smouldering bonfires.

Shortie, Ardbeg’s most famous resident

And so to the trip. You can’t fly direct to Islay from London; you take a flight to Glasgow then hop on a very small plane for the second leg, often greeted by plenty of turbulence, but this just added to the sense of adventure. Once on dry land, we headed south to Port Ellen, passing Laphroaig, then Lagavulin, then we were there: Ardbeg.

food, glorious food

The first brilliant thing about the trip: Ardbeg bread. Arriving at the distillery, we made for the Old Kiln Café (Ardbeg is one of only two Islay distilleries that serves food; Kilchoman is the other) and all of us got stuck into this amazing smoky, peaty bread that was served with our soup. It tasted of Ardbeg! It was made with the grist (the leftover ground-up barley) and it’s a taste I will never forget.

Another thing that struck me was how few people actually work at the distillery, given its size and how much whisky is made there. Other than the distillery manager, I could count the number of employees I saw on one hand, something I would soon learn is the norm in whisky distilleries! The other highlight of the trip was trying new-make spirit – the distillery’s DNA. In the case of Ardbeg, the beautiful smoke shone through.

why i LOVE ISLAY

I got to see a fair chunk of the island, too. During the trip, I discovered:

• the charming way all drivers on Islay greet each other with a wave as they pass
• that Islay water is a disconcerting shade of brown
• that people from Islay are known as ‘Ileachs’.

The sun setting over Laggan Bay on Islay

My trip wasn’t just about visiting a whisky distillery. For me, it was about visiting an island where whisky plays such a leading role, an island teeming with history, and an island that was just so different to any other part of Scotland I’d been to before. And now, every time I drink an Ardbeg, I think about that trip, and it brings back many happy memories.

Got a whisky story of your own? We’d love to hear about it.

The Victoria Whisky Festival 2018 has now come and gone, and Pat Dunlop of thewhiskymafia.com was there! On the ground and in the trenches with Mrs. Whiskymafia and pair of whisky cohorts in tow, Pat absorbed the sights, sounds, smells and feelings of #VWF2018 and documents them in trademark style for your reading pleasure.

Click here for more.

Ralfy celebrates 100,000 subscribers with Ralfy Review 711 – Brora 30yo @ 56.3%vol (4th release)

A Classic Bottling for All Fans of Japanese Whisky
Suntory “Hibiki Japanese Harmony” ($59.99)
“Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki.” – Whisky Advocate

While age-statement whiskies from Japan appear to have gone the way of the Dodo, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get your fix. Suntory’s “Hibiki Japanese Harmony,” while not bearing an age-statement, still offers the classic profile collectors and connoisseurs expect from this legendary distiller. While there may have been a bit of skepticism when Suntory announced the inaugural release of “Harmony,” any hesitation was quickly swept away upon tasting.

A beautiful whisky by any measure, it is delightfully complex while remaining approachable and utterly delicious from the first sip to the last. Smoky flavors mingle with subtle touches of oak, lemon, toffee, and vanilla. Perhaps most striking, is how gracefully elegant the delivery is, especially given its underlying power and verve. Very attractively priced at under $60, the “Harmony” is a very affordable way to enjoy a classic Japanese whisky from one of the most highly regard distillers in the world. Our allocations of “Harmony” always sell in the blink of an eye, so don’t delay in securing your bottles.

Suntory “Hibiki Japanese Harmony” Japanese Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

91 points Wine Enthusiast: “The newest blended whisky offering from Hibiki is burnished gold in the glass and has a bold aroma that mixes vanilla, fresh pear and a hint of smoke. The smokiness comes forward at the first sip, wrapping around a core of oak and vanilla custard and finishing long, with a mouthwatering bitter chocolate note. *Best of 2016* (KN)” (03/2016)

90 points Whisky Advocate: “Poised and complex, with typically lifted fruitiness: strawberry ice cream, pineapple, peach, balanced by delicate oak, bamboo shoot-like delicacy, then lemon. The palate is more rounded than that very forward nose, with toffee notes adding some weight. A touch of smoke comes along in the mid-palate, before fruits and caramelized coffee biscuits. Water allows the flavors to flood the palate. Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki. (DB, Winter 2015)” (12/2015)

Wine & Spirits: “You cant be a Japanese whisky enthusiast without having noticed that theres a shortage of the stuff. What once was readily available is now hard to find. What once was affordable now costs various bodily limbs. It is due to more than a fad. The best Japanese whisky is remarkable stuff, and none are better than the top single malts from Suntory, Yamazaki, Hakushu and the blended whisky Hibiki. Hibiki comes in 12-, 17- and 21-year-old expressions, but even the youngest of these is now allocated. Harmony, the newest release, carries no age statement, indicating that it contains younger whiskies than other bottlings. Nevertheless, this is a welcome concession, with Suntorys classic sense of balance, nuance and delicacy. *Best of 2015*(JM)” (11/2015)

K&L Notes: The newest incarnation of Suntory’s hugely popular Hibiki series, this time without an age statement attached. The same soft, mellow, vanilla-laden flavor is still here, however. It’s a true harmony of pure Hibiki flavor.

Darkess! Shall fall…

The fantastic range of Darkness whisky has arrived at Milroys. Tirelessly sourced rare old casks are bottled at cask strength, but not before finishing the whiskies in smaller casks that have previously held sherry or fortified wine to add significant levels of complexity and deliciousness…

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Buy Invergordon 25 Now

INVERGORDON, 43 YEAR OLD, DARKNESS!, OLOROSO CASK FINISH, 49.3% 50CL

£149.95

An extremely old cask of Invergordon grain whisky finished in Oloroso Sherry.

Buy Invergordon 43 Now

TOBERMORY, 22 YEAR OLD, DARKNESS, MOSCATEL CASK FINISH, 49.2%, 50CL

£79.95

A wonderful whisky from the idyllic Isle of Mull. This Tobermory has been finished in a Moscatel cask adding complex layers of fruit undertones.

Buy Tobermory 22 Now