Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 167: Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries another bourbon. Michter’s creates whiskey and bourbon that really stands out. They toast their casks before charring, they put their spirit in cask at higher proof, they create artificial heat cycles during maturation and they have a secret non-chill filtering process. Mark finds out what that does with their Small Batch Bourbon.

https://youtu.be/mNmPVEMD9FE

New Chita Single Grain Whisky from Suntory Japanese Whisky Launches in UK

(London, July 2017) Just in time for the British summer, leading Japanese distiller, Suntory Japanese Whisky will be launching a brand-new single grain whisky, Chita. Reflective of the misty, calm seas of the Chita Peninsula, the whisky hits UK shores this July.

Suntory’s Chita is a whisky with enough complexity for the whisky connoisseur and a mild enough character for those just starting to explore the world of Japanese whisky. Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo chose to age this unique grain whisky in wine, Spanish Oak and American White Oak. The result of doing so creates a more delicate, smoother grain whisky with unparalleled sophistication and a clean, clear finish, making it the perfect choice for a lighter summer serve.

Shinji Fukuyo said “There is a quiet confidence and tenderness in our grain whiskies. These qualities allow them to be their own heroes, whether in a blend of featured as a single grain whisky”.

From July, you can also enjoy Chita at London’s award winning Japanese restaurant, ROKA Canary Wharf, where a bespoke Japanese Terrace Garden pop-up will feature an array of refreshing, Japanese inspired Chita cocktails.

Standing proudly amongst The House of Suntory’s prestigious portfolio, the exceptional Chita Single Grain Whisky is available to purchase in the UK from July 1st.

Availability:

July 1^st, RRP £52.50 70cl

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Tasting notes – Chita Single Grain Whisky:

Colour:             Bright gold

Nose:                Crème brûlée, cardamon, acacia honey, blossoming rose

Palate:              Mild and smooth, hint of mint, deep honey

Finish:              Clean and clear, spiced oak with subtle bittersweet notes

About Suntory:

The House of Suntory Whisky is the founding house of Japanese whisky. A legacy of three master blenders and three generations of innovators, Suntory was created by the Founding Father of Japanese whisky, Shinjiro Torii. Suntory was established in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Since 1923, as the pioneer of Japanese whisky, Suntory Whisky has been renowned for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. Suntory Whiskies are subtle, refined and complex. The portfolio feature two single malt whiskies, one blend and one grain whisky including Yamazaki—Japan’s #1 Single Malt, multi-layered and profound, Hakushu—verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky, Hibiki— the noble blend, Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky and the mild, smooth, single grain, Chita— the serenity of Japanese whisky

The Chita

The first single grain release from Suntory Whisky, completing the single distillery trio (along with Hakushu and Yamazaki) that create the award-winning Hibiki blend. Aged in wine and Spanish oak casks in addition to American White oak casks for a milder, but complex flavour.

£55 Buy Now

Yamazaki 12 Year Old

This Japanese single malt whisky boasts delicious notes of sweet vanilla and fruitiness that is derived from white oak casks which are accented with fine aromas of spirits aged in sherry and Japanese oak casks.

£75 Buy Now

Billy Walker- GlenDronach No More; Glenallachie to the Fore

Billy is back; Glenallachie Distillery. Billy Walker, the main man behind the revival of GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh Distilleries. In 2004, Billy and two other investors purchased BenRiach Distillery under their BenRiach Distillery Company.  2008 came along and they purchased The GlenDronach Distillery. Finally in 2013, Glenglassaugh Distillery added. Now as you know, these distilleries, GlenDronach in particular, have established themselves among the scotch whiskey elite. GlenDronach Distillery’s reputation as a sherry cask matured scotch producer with the highly acclaimed and sought after Single Cask releases has soared in the past 5 year or so. Also, with American company Brown-Forman stepping in with a tasty £285m offer in 2016,  the figures show the level Billy and his team reached with their whisky production. But what next?

Billy Walker and Glenallachie Distillery

For these 3 distilleries, life will go on. But what route they go down remains to be seen. And with a smaller release of single casks vintages in the latest batch (#15) in May this year, are they heading down a different, more brand led path with GlenDronach? Who knows. However, last week brought exciting news. Billy and a small consortium purchased Glenallachie Distillery from Chivas Brothers; the Scotch Whiskey arm of the gigantic French Pernod Ricard drinks company. There had been a rumour in the air that Billy was keen for a new project but few would have guessed on Glenallachie Distillery. Built in 1967 this is a relatively new Scottish whiskey distillery and has a less than glamorous history. Mothballed for half the 1980s, in 1989 it restarted and the number of stills doubled to 4, to meet the demand for blended whiskey. This is not a renowned single malt whiskey distillery. It’s history is largely as a factory of production. With Billy Walker now at Glenallachie, its future looks bright and certainly interesting.

Please click HERE to read the remainder of the article.

Production Operative/Assistant Distiller

JOB DESCRIPTION

This position offers a fantastic opportunity to join a thriving craft distillery which is quickly establishing itself as one of the finest examples of craft distilling in the UK since opening in 2014. The successful candidate will be working as part of a small team and will be heavily involved in a range of tasks including:

·         Production of a variety of spirits (whisky, gin, apple brandy and grain whisky) from “grain to glass”.

·         Warehouse work·

·         Cleaning and maintenance.

The company are seeking someone who is hardworking, confident and has a drive to succeed in the distilling industry. The nature of the position requires a significant amount of hands-on physical work as well as associated tasks such as record keeping which require close attention to detail and accuracy. As our distillery is located in the Cotswolds countryside your own transport would be essential.

HOURS

40 hours per week shift rota, 7 days per week operation (must be flexible in order to meet business requirements which will include weekend work, evening work and early starts).

QUALIFICATIONS

·         Previous employment in a production environment or retail/hospitality management is desirable.

·         GCSE grade A-D in maths and science desirable.

·         DQC for 7.5T lorry desirable.

SKILLS AND QUALITIES

·         Can-do attitude with an ability to multi-task.

·         Hardworking and enthusiastic.

·         Reliable.

·         Excellent communication skills.

SALARY

·         Competitive salary.

·         Staff Discount.

·         ·Childcare Voucher Scheme.

If it sounds like the job for you, please EMAIL jobs@cotswoldsdistillery.com with your CV and a covering letter. Thanks!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

While we review each application on an individual basis, due to the high number of applicants we cannot guarantee that we will be able to reply to each candidate. Therefore, if you have not been invited for interview within two weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful.

Young whisky brand, R&B Distillers has now appointed the very first whisky distiller for the forthcoming Isle of Raasay Distillery which will open in September 2017.

The search for Raasay’s first distiller commenced in January 2017 and has spread far and wide, receiving applications from around the globe. The brand is now delighted to announce that the appointment of Iain Robertson as the first distiller.

Iain is a recent Honours graduate of the Heriot Watt Brewing and Distilling school. During his studies, he took a placement at North British grain distillery and worked at Edinburgh’s The Scotch Whisky Experience as one of their highly knowledgeable tour guides. Iain is not only formally educated in the art and science of distilling but is innovative and enthusiastic about respectfully pushing the boundaries of the spirit. Iain will be relocating to the small island of Raasay to join the team.

It’s a big in the K&L spirits department as we’ve just received our annual allocation of what is by far America’s best and most coveted single malt release: the Westland Garryana, made with whisky aged in Oregon Garryana oak barrels for a robust and unique flavor. I was a huge fan of the initial release last year and I’m just as enthused with this year’s release. But I think distiller Matt Hofmann’s words below summarize the creativity of this project better than I can:

We’re compelled to look out so we might see possibilities others don’t recognize. But seeing opportunity is not enough. You have to have the wherewithal to do something about it. During the trip, we explored one of the few remaining natural Garry Oak savannas in the Pacific Northwest. It was coated with lush mosses draping the otherwise bare limbs in the middle of winter. The oaks provided a juxtaposition of a life frozen in time and a world moving steadily forward. Again, we removed ourselves from the moment, wondering in amazement at our place in the world of whiskey, exploring physically at the edge of the earth and figuratively at the cutting edge of single malt philosophy. We, like our whiskies, are products of our time and place. While we look forward to the future we’re building with our new partners in this industry we cannot deny that what we live for now in the present is the exploration, the journey. This latest edition is another step forward along a path that winds all across the Pacific Northwest in search of insight.

I got the pleasure of dining with Matt this past Monday and talking in depth about not only the Garryana project, but also the future of whiskymaking for the distillery. These guys are just on another level, and now that they’ve partnered with Bruichladdich under the Remy umbrella, I think the sky is the limit. For those interested in great whisky, I’d compel you to exercise our one bottle allocation for the 2017 Garryana. For those who are fascinated by terroir in whisky and unique expressions of our American continent, then this is a must buy:

Westland “Garryana 2.1” Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($139.99) – The second release of Garryana is a more restrained and focused expression of what the gang at Westland Distillery hoped to showcase with their native oak project. Whereas the initial release was a big, bold, and brash expression, full of spice and a bit of smoke, this year’s edition dials back the peat and lets the oak have center stage. With 21% of the blend coming from Oregon Garryana barrels, the impact of that influence is allowed to better integrate into harmony with the remaining 52% of ex-Bourbon-aged malt, along with the 27% virgin oak matured whisky. Still present is the BBQ smoke, the molasses, the coffee bean, and robust flavor that highlighted last year’s release, but this time around its under complete control, bent and shaped into precisely the right proportions. Many of us here at K&L thought the 2016 Garryana was one of the best whiskies of last year, and seeing that this year’s total production was a measly 2600 bottles, we recommend jumping on the one bottle we’re allowing customers to buy. Westland has proven again and again that they are America’s premier single malt distillery. The 2017 release of Garryana should put any last doubts to bed.

In honour of Canada 150, Pat Dunlop at thewhiskymafia.com shares his 10 favourite Canadian whiskies!

July 1, 2017 marked the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation as a nation, a fact that if you’re not Canadian may well have escaped you (and if you are Canadian, it’s been hammered into each of our minds relentlessly since at least January of this year). As a proud son of Canada, I think now is perhaps the perfect time to highlight my affection for one of our great and lasting contributions to the world at large, Canadian whisky. Click here to read the remainder of the article

Ralfy savours the single cask event with Ralfy Review 667 – Edradour Single Cask 15yo @ 54.7%vol (No 1406)

The DVC Exclusive The Ritz London, Photo Credit David Parry

2017 DISTILLERY EXCLUSIVE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE DALMORE

Luxury single malt whisky maker The Dalmore has released its limited edition distillery bottling for 2017.

Available exclusively from the renowned The Dalmore Distillery in the Scottish Highlands, The Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 combines the depth and complexity of The Dalmore’s unique new make spirit with sweetness gifted from the soft character of Californian Merlot.

Released during Master Distiller Richard Paterson’s 50^th year in the whisky industry, the Distillery Exclusive is a showcase of Richard’s craftsmanship and, in particular, his pioneering approach to the art of maturation and cask finishing.

Having matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels, The Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 has been finished in hand selected Californian Merlot Barriques for five years before bottling.

The Dalmore distillery was founded in 1839 and, through its unbroken chain of exceptional whisky creators, has defined the luxury single malt whisky category ever since. Since taking the reins as Master Distiller nearly 50 years ago, Richard Paterson has been the pioneering force behind The Dalmore, responsible for creating some of the world’s most coveted and iconic whiskies. Richard has achieved a number of world firsts, including the six-cask matured The Dalmore King Alexander III and releasing the first ever five red wine finished whisky, The Dalmore Quintessence.

Richard Paterson, Master Distiller commented: “The Dalmore Distillery, located on the picturesque shore of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands, is my go-to place for inspiration and reflection. It is here that I first considered how best to combine one of my favourite red wines with the distillery’s deep and complex new make spirit.

“The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 is the result of these efforts, offering a harmonious balance between the sweet notes of the Californian Merlot and the signature flavours of our own Dalmore house style. Bottled at natural strength and with notes of chocolate truffle, coffee and black toffee, this year’s exclusive distillery release is a treat worth snapping up for any visitors to our distillery.”

Up to 270 bottles will be available to purchase, priced at £200. The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 (52% ABV) is available from The Dalmore Distillery at Alness, Ross-shire, Scotland, IV17 0UT.     

The DVC Exclusive The Ritz London, Photo Credit David Parry

Notes:

Tasting Notes:

Colour:                 Deep mahogany gold shimmering with ruby highlights

Aroma:                 Succulent Black Forest fruits, fleshy Victoria plum and sweet apricots

Palate:                  Morello cherries, blueberry pie, cinnamon and soft chewy liquorice

Finish:                  Chocolate truffles, coffee and black toffee

ABV:                      52% 

The Dalmore

The Dalmore is the definitive luxury malt, since 1839.

Founded by Sir Alexander Matheson, a restless entrepreneur and international businessman, The Dalmore was born with a different purpose, to go above and beyond to create luxurious single malt whisky unlike any other.

An unbroken chain of exceptional whisky makers have been fulfilling Sir Alexander’s vision ever since, pioneering multi cask maturation over 100 years before this was commonly adopted by others in the industry.

Richard Paterson has been Master Distiller at The Dalmore for nearly 50 years.  The whiskies he has created during his tenure have help Richard to achieve global celebrity status.  He is the man who, with The Dalmore, created the category of super luxury single malt, a category he continues to define to this very day.

About The Dalmore Distillery & Visitor Centre Located on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Highlands of Scotland, the Dalmore distillery is home to some of the oldest whisky stocks in the world. Those that visit receive a rare insight into the skill, expertise and craft required to produce The Dalmore.

Distillery tours are available year round by booking only which ensures that the team are able to cater to the needs of each group. Enquiries should be made by visiting www.thedalmore.com or calling 01349 882 362.